J- ^t 




The John M. Rogers Press, Wpl. . Del 



LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL SHAFT. 



Erected September 11, 1895, to mark the place where Lafayette was 

wounded in the battle of Brandywine, September 11, 1777. 

Height of Shaft, 15 feet. Material, terra cotta. 

For inscriptions see pages 17 and 18. 

Lafayette is reported to have said to Washington, before the battle 
of Brandywine, as they reached the spot where this shaft stands: 
"If there be any land in America worth fighting for it is here." 
On authority of John Forsythe, school teacher and farmer, resid- 
ing on the battle field, born June 11. 1754, died March 3, 1840. 



LAFAYETTE 



AT 



BRANDYWINE 



CONTAINING THE PROCEEDINGS AT THE DEDICATION OF THE MEMO- 
RIAL SHAFT ERECTED TO MARK THE PLACE WHERE 
LAFAYETTE WAS WOUNDED IN THE 
BATTLE OF BRANDYWINE, 

WITH SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER ON 

LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS, 

BY 
CHARLTON T. LEWIS. 

ALSO EVIDENCE AS TO THE PLACE WHERE LAFAYETTE WAS WOUNDED: 
ACCOUNTS OF HIS VISITS IN 1780 AND 1825: NAMES OF CON- 
TRIBUTORS: MEMBERS OF THE CHESTER COUNTY 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY: ETC. 



PUBLISHED 

BY 

THE CHESTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



WEST CHESTER, PA. 
1896. 






a-^ V 



$1 



C^ 



Gift 
The Society 

!4F '05 



Printed by 

F. S. Hickman, Cor. Gay and Church Sts. 

West Chester, Pa. 



///* 



PREFA TOR Y NO TE. 

This little volume contains, in its earlier pages, an account of 
the exercises at the dedication of the memorial shaft erected to 
mark the place where Lafayette was wounded in the battle of 
Brandy wine. 

The Chester County Historical Society, under whose auspices 
the exercises were conducted, zvas fortunate in securing the services 
of the Hon. Charlton T Lewis as the orator for the occasion. 
Mr. Lewis had made a special study of the life of Lafayette. His 
scholarly research, as embodied in this brilliant oration, is a 
valuable contribution to the literature of the subject, and will do 
much to give Lafayette's public services the position they deserve on 
the, -rges of history. Mr. Lewis has placed the Historical So- 

y and the readers of this volume under further obligations by 

•mitting the publication of his supplemental paper, "Lafayette 
and the Historians!' 

Mr. Gilbert Cope, who read the "Historical Address',' makes 
clear, in his concise account of the battle of Brandywine, several 
points which were before involved in obscurity. 

Appendixes have been added in which are collected the evi- 
dence as to the place where Lafayette was wounded in the bat- 
tle of Brandywi?te ; and accounts of Lafayette's subsequent 
visits to the Brandywine, the last of which in 1825 is within the 
memory of many still living. The chain of events here given 
links the present with our earlier heroic past. 

The coimnittee in charge of this compilation wishes to make 
public acknowledgment of its indebtedness to Messrs. Philip P. 
Sharpies, John R. Gilpin, Gilbert Cope and Samuel Marshall, for 
valuable aid in the preparation of the historical map at the end 
of this volume. 

The thanks of the Historical Society are due to scores of kind 
friends who contributed in many ways to the success of the ex- 
ercises at the dedication of the memorial shaft. This page would 
be far too small to hold their names. Special reference, however, 

( 3 ) 



*■/ 



4 PREFA TOR Y NO TE. 

should be made to the Phcenix Military Band, whose performances 
added largely to the pleasure of the exercises. 

It may be interesting to note that on the same day and on the 
same ground another memorial was erected to another participant 
in the battle of Brandywine, Col. Joseph McClellan, whose speech 
of welcome to Gen. Lafayette in 1825 is given in these pages. 
Col. McClellan 's descendants were also active in the promotion of 
the Lafayette Memorial, and at the exercises a grandson was one 
of the vice-presidents and a great-great-grandson placed a wreath 
on the shaft on behalf of the school children of West Chester. 

The great gathering of people on this occasion was all the 
more gratifying and remarkable when it is remembered that there 
were few of the ordinary attractions that draw a crowd. It was 
a spontaneous outpouring of the people, prompted by sentiments 
of patriotism. 

The committee in charge of this publication cannot refrain from 
quoting, in this connection, the following paragraph from an edi- 
torial in "Harper s Weekly " of February 8, i8p6,page i2j, on 
"Our Historic Monuments : " 

" There is no more hopeful sign for the future of this country 
than the widening and deepening interest now taken in the history 
of the United Stales. There has never been a time when the events 
connected with the settlement and growth of the colonies, with the 
struggle of the Revolution, and the critical period which ensued, 
have been followed as closely and zealously as they are to-day by 
our young people. The movement is all the more admirable be- 
cause it is spontaneous, natural and healthy. It represents a spirit 
which ca?inot be too highly praised nor over- encouraged. It can- 
not fail to develop and strengthen those impulses of patriotism from 
which it had its origin, and to contribute to the stability of those 
results which it teaches us to appreciated 

While this simple and graceful shaft, made of terra cotta, at 
small cost, is a silent protest against extravagance and show in 
monuments, its familiar artistic form ( the Roman- Corinthian 
column ) has also an educational value, and might be followed, 
in its classic simplicity and grace, in the erection of historic monu- 
ments all over our land. On probably no other subject does the 
popidar taste need more correction. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 



acing title page. 




3 




7 


facing page 


7 


<( << 


13 


<< (< 


14 


« 


14 


facing page 


15 



Memorial Shaft, ..... 

Prefatory Note, .... 

Lafayette Memorial Exercises, 
^ Portrait of Lafayette by Peale, . 
/Portrait of Capt. Wm. Wayne, 

V View of Exercises of Dedication, 
Prayer by Dr. Owen P. Eaches, 

^ Portrait of Dr. Owen P. Eaches, 

Address at Unveiling of Shaft by M. Vossion, . . 16 

Presentation of Shaft for Dedication by Jas. Monaghan, i6 

f Portrait of James Monaghan, . . . . facing page 16 

Address of Dedication by Dr. George Morris Philips, . 18 

/ Portrait of Dr. George Morris Philips, . . facing page 18 

Historical Address by Gilbert Cope, . . . .19 

/ Portrait of Gilbert Cope, .... facing page 19 
/ Birmingham Meetinghouse, . . . " " 22 

Recitation, " The Fight at the Ford," by Miss Harriet Trapp, 28 

Oration by Hon. Charlton T. Lewis, . . . .30 

/ Portrait of Mr. Lewis, ..... facing page 30 

Benediction by Rev. Wm. L. Bull, . . . .49 

V Portrait of Mr. Bull, ..... facing page 49 
" Lafayette and the Historians," by Charlton T. Lewis, 50 
Letters from Gen. Lafayette's Relatives, . . 67 
Evidence as to where Lafayette was Wounded. 68, 85-6, 87, 88 
Lafayette's Visit to the Brandywine, 1780, . . 74 
Lafayette's Visit to Chester County, 1825, 75 

/ Portrait of Lafayette, by Sully, 1824, . . facing page 79 

Extracts from Levasseur's Journal. . . . .84 

Officers and Members of Chester County Historical Society, 89 
List of Contributors to Memorial Shaft Fund, . . 91 

( 5 ) 




C. W. PEALE, Pin* 



Phila. Engraving Co. 



The John M. Rogers Press, Wil., Del. 



LAFAYETTE. 



From a painting by Chas. Wilson Peale, in 1778, presented by Lafayette to 

Washington, now in the possession of Gen. G. W. Custis Lee, President 

of the Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va., through 

whose courtesy it is here reproduced. Size of canvass 40x49 ins. 

Gen. Lafayette's hair was red, and not powdered. 

A portrait of Lafayette, resembling this one, was introduced into Peale's 
Washington, painted for the State of Maryland in 1783, and now in the 
State Library, at Annapolis, Md. 



LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 



The Chester County Historical Society was organized 
April 21, 1893. Its charter contains the following provision: 
" The purpose for which the corporation is formed is the acqui- 
sition and preservation of property and information of historic 
value or interest to the people of Chester county." At the 
first meeting of the society after its organization, held May 
19th following, it was proposed that, in furtherance of the pur- 
pose of its organization, the society should undertake the 
work of marking all places of historic interest in the county. 

With a view of arousing interest in the subject, it was de- 
cided, at a special meeting of the society, held in West Ches- 
ter, July 4th, 1893, to invite the public schools of the county 
to assist in establishing special exercises in local history on 
September nth, — that day to be known as " Brandywine 
Day," in honor of the revolutionary struggle. 

The following reasons were urged in support of the estab- 
lishment of this anniversary : "(1) Chester county is unusually 
rich in historical facts and traditions and in biography. (2) A 
knowledge of local history should precede and accompany a 
knowledge of general history. (3) Such exercises in our pub- 
lic schools will cultivate a fondness for history and biography, 
stimulate a proper local pride and foster patriotism. (4) A 
knowledge of the worthy lives that have been lived here at 
home will be a strong incentive and example to our children. 
(5) A study of the social, civil and political development of 
our country will the better prepare our youth for the responsi- 
bilities of citizenship. ' (6) These exercises will become a 
source of increasing interest from year to year to the pupils 
and patrons of the schools. (7) A popular interest in this 
movement may bring to light valuable papers, facts and inci- 
dents." 

( 7 ) 



8 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

There was quite a general response from the schools. The 
Historical Society accordingly prepared a program, with par- 
ticular reference to the revolutionary struggle, and printed and 
circulated it among the schools. The next anniversary was ar- 
ranged to include a Lafayette program as a preparation for the 
memorial exercises here given. 

The following circular was prepared and distributed at the 
teachers' institute in the fall of 1893 : 

" HISTORIC LANDMARKS. 

" At the first annual meeting of the Chester County Historical Society 
an effort was made to direct attention to the study of local history. It 
was thought that this could best be done by recalling and marking the 
historical struggle in Chester county for American freedom. Interest 
and enthusiasm once aroused, who can measure the effect ? Mr. Brice, 
author of the ' American Commonwealth,' has pointed out that the Swiss, 
otherwise an unimaginative people, by familiarity with their own annals, 
by national songs, by the celebration of anniversaries, by the statues of 
departed heroes, by the preservation of ancient buildings, by historical 
and antiquarian museums, have not only become penetrated and per- 
vaded by patriotism, but have learned to carry its spirit into the workings 
of their institutions. Our efforts may at least give an impetus in this di- 
rection. Indeed our plans have already attracted wide attention. But 
the most encouraging reports come from the public schools in the form 
of fresh interest in historical studies, as the result of the first annual ex- 
ercises of ' Brandy wine Day.' Since our plans were announced a bill has 
been introduced into Congress providing for a monument to Lafayette, 
and a movement has been started among the Junior Order of American 
Mechanics to erect a monument to Washington on the battlefield of the 
Brandywine. 

" The proposal of the Historical Society is that marking stones be 
planted on all historic places in the county, to indicate the fields of 
battle, the position of the forces, and the lines of march extending from 
one end of our county to the other. The work cannot be pushed too 
rapidly. Few are now living who can locate the spot where Lafayette 
was wounded. Each year makes the work more difficult. 

" These historic landmarks will awaken interest, refresh memories and 
suggest patriotic thoughts and aspirations. They will add a new charm 
to our ' dear valley, home of many friends.' They will help to attract 
strangers who will find here a ' happy and secure retreat.' 

" The first point to be marked should be the struggle on the Brandy- 
wine. Known as it is to every school child in the land, and consecrated 
to two nations by the blood of Lafayette, the exercises befitting the oc- 
casion of marking such a spot should be an event of international im- 
portance. Distinguished Americans and foreigners, the military, the fire 
companies and other charitable and patriotic organizations, and the 



LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 9 

school children from all over the county, should be invited to take part 
in the exercises. 

"Such a work should be carried out only by popular subscription. 
There is probably no one living in Chester county — or who has ever lived 
here— who will not want to contribute something. 

" Subscription papers will be sent to every post office, newspaper of- 
fice and school in the county. Let all who read this notice call promptly 
at one of these places and sign their names. These papers will be pre- 
served in the Historical Society, and will be read with increasing interest 
from year to year. Let the subscriptions be large or small, as you feel 
able or willing to give. Every school child can give something. It is 
suggested that the school children combine their subscriptions, writing 
their names without the amount, but giving the total of the school, which 
should be placed in the teacher's hands. Which will be the banner 
school in each township, and which township and which school will lead 
in the whole county ? The post of honor in the exercises should be given 
to such schools. We can count upon the hearty support of the local 
press. Let the effort be worthy of the cause. 

" This proposal of the Historical Society has the endorsement of such 
prominent educators as Professors Jos. S. Walton, Geo. M. Philips, 
Addison Jones, and others. 

"Those who are willing to canvass for subscriptions may send their 
names to Edwin A. Barber, West Chester, Pa., Corresponding Secretary 
of the Historical Society, and he will forward subscription papers. 

" Reports, with contributions, may be sent to James C. Sellers, West 
Chester, Pa., who, as treasurer of the Historical Society, may for con- 
venience receive and hold the funds. 

"James Monaghan, 
Chairman Special Committee." 

A committee, consisting of James Monaghan, Edwin A. 
Barber and James C. Sellers, was appointed by the Historical 
Society to procure a suitable memorial shaft to mark the place 
where Lafayette was wounded in the battle of Brandywine. 
The committee, after correspondence and consideration of de- 
signs, suggested a Roman-Corinthian column, fifteen feet in 
height, to be made of terra cotta [frontispiece]. A sum suffi- 
cient to pay for this shaft was soon contributed by patriotic citi- 
zens and school children. The shaft was ordered, and, after its 
completion, preparations were made for its dedication. 

The following committees were appointed to arrange and 

conduct the exercises of dedication : 

Committee on Arrangements : James Monaghan, chairman ; Edwin 
A. Barber, Gilbert Cope, Gibbons Gray Cornwell, Samuel Marshall and 
Joseph Thompson. 



io LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Committee on Reception : Prof. George M. Philips, chairman ; Rev. 
G. Livingston Bishop, Miss Anna J. Davis of Chester Springs, Rev. 
Joseph S. Evans, H. H. Gilkyson of Phoenixville, Dr. W. D. Hartman, J. 
Carroll Hayes, Mrs. E. Dallett Hemphill, Mrs. Abner Hoopes, Prof. D. 
W. Howard, H. Rush Kervey, S. L. Martindale of Oxford, R. Jones 
Monaghan, Thomas H. Montgomery, Richard G. Park, Charles H. 
Pennypacker, Alfred Sharpless, Wm. P. Sharpless, C. Wesley Talbot, 
Joseph Thompson, and Jos. S. Walton of Ercildoun. 

Committee on Entertainment : Mrs. James Monaghan, Mrs. E. 
Dallett Hemphill, Mrs. S. Emlen Sharpies and Miss Mary I. Stille. 
Aids : Miss Josephine B. Thompson, Mrs. Wm. T. Sharpless, Miss Eliza- 
beth Black, Miss Alice Shields, Miss Annie Finegan, Miss Mary Farrell, 
Miss Anna Hibberd, Miss Anna Chamberlain, Miss Ussher, Miss Edith 
Darlington, Miss Bishop, The Misses Morris, The Misses Walter, Miss 
Alice Hoopes, The Misses Cornwell, Miss Jennie Achelis, Miss Frances 
Brooks, Miss Frances Thomas, Miss Josie Roberts, The Misses Gheen, 
Miss Anna Darlington, Miss Fanny Brinton, Miss Frances Darlington, 
Miss Harriet Trapp, Miss Florence Jacobs, The Misses Marshall, Miss 
Emily Hoopes. The Homespun Club : Miss Elizabeth Rothrock, Miss 
Eleanor Moore, Miss Martha Thompson, Mr. Hamilton Bishop, Mr. 
Gilbert Bishop, Mr. William Montgomery, Mr. Charles Montgomery, 
Mr. William Baird, Mr. Henry Baird. 

Committee on Transportation : Dr. William T. Sharpless, chair- 
man ; John H. Darlington, J. Carroll Hayes, Samuel Marshall and Joseph 
Thompson, of West Chester; Jacob Martin, of Marshallton ; G. Winfield 
Moore, of Ercildoun, and Harry Wilson, of Gum Tree. 

Committee on Finance : James C. Sellers, chairman ; J. Newton 
Huston, secretary ; George B. Johnson, Geo. M. Philips, Mrs. E. Dallett 
Hemphill, Mrs. James Monaghan and Miss Mary I. Stille, of West Chester ; 
Miss Anna J. Davis, of Chester Springs ; H. H. Gilkyson, of Phoenixville ; 
Louis A. Holton, of Coatesville ; S. L. Martindale, of Oxford ; Miss Mary 
Hopkins Smith, of Parkesburg. 

Committee on Grounds : Joseph Thompson, chairman ; Gilbert Cope, 
G. G. Cornwell, Edwin A. Barber, and Samuel Marshall. 

Chief Marshal and Aids : Col. Alfred Rupert, chief marshal. Aids : 
Col. A. McC. Holding, William Butler, Jr., Maj. L. G. McCauley, Arthur 
T. Parke, Dr. William T. Sharpless, Robert S. Waddell, T. Roney 
Williamson, of West Chester ; Jos. Hill Brinton, of Philadelphia ; 
Frederic Carey, of Kennett Square ; William F. Dowdall, of Avondale ; 
Pusey Harvey, of Unionville ; and Harry Sloyer, of Phoenixville. 

The place selected for the shaft is a triangular piece of ground 
on the north side of the public road leading from Dilvvorthtown 
to Birmingham meetinghouse, at a point where the properties 
of Mrs. Mary D. Biddle and Minshall Sharpless join. This is 
one of the highest points of what is known as " Battle Hill," is 



LAFA YETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 1 1 

in full view of the meetinghouse, and the hills to the north, 
over which the British approached, and is a short distance from 
where Lafayette was wounded. 

The eleventh of September, 1895, was in many ways similar 
to that memorable day in 1777. In both years dry weather 
had prevailed for some time previous. In both the morning 
was foggy, but later the mists disappeared and the sun came 
out clear and hot. The citizens who thronged to these com- 
memorative exercises looked also upon a country and rural 
scenes strikingly like those upon which their ancestors gazed 
one hundred and eighteen years before. The great crowd that 
gathered together, notwithstanding the heat and dust, to cele- 
brate the revolutionary struggle was proof that the patriotic 
services of their ancestors were not forgotten. 

At an early hour the people began to gather from all direc- 
tions on the historic battlefield. They came in carriages, on 
horseback and on foot. The militia, consisting of Co. I, the 
Wayne Fencibles, and Co. D, the Wheatley Cadets, nth Regi- 
ment, National Guards of Pennsylvania, were taken on the 
electric railway to Sconnelltown, and from there were conveyed 
in wagons to Birmingham meetinghouse over the route taken 
by the British army in 1777. Mr. William T. Painter enlisted 
the interest of a number of farmers to send their wagons to 
carry the public school children of West Chester who had no 
other means of conveyance. In this way several hundred 
children were enabled to witness the exercises who could 
not otherwise have done so. Many others walked or rode. 
The whole number of children in attendance must have con- 
siderably exceeded a thousand. As the hour for the com- 
mencement of the exercises approached, the historic hills 
seemed alive with people. The attendance was variously esti- 
mated at from five to eight thousand. 

The exercises of the- day began in West Chester with a sa- 
lute by the firing squad of the Gen. Geo. A. McCall Post, No. 
31, Grand Army of the Republic, William H. Turner in com- 
mand. This salute consisted of thirteen guns, corresponding 
with the number of the original states and the number of stars 
on the flag when it waived over the battlefield of Brandywine. 



12 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

The Wheatley Cadets and the Phoenix Military Band arrived 
in West Chester on the early train from Phcenixville and were 
greeted with the salute from the cannon. The band was es- 
corted by members of the reception committee to the court- 
house, where, from the lawn, they rendered the following se- 
lections : 

National Medley — Potpourri, . . Heinicke. 

Cornet Solo— "' My Old Kentucky Home," Masten. 

Mr. H. F. Vanderslice. 

Overture — " Semiramide," . . . Rossini. 

Baritone Solo — " Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," Rollinson. 

Mr. C. H. Howell. 

Medley — Plantation Songs, . . Conterno. 

Clarionet Solo — 2d Air and Var., . Thorton. 

Mr. Ferd. Saylor. 

Selection— " Macbeth," . . . Verdi. 

Mazourka Russe — " La Czarine," . . Ganne. 

Selection — " Faust," . . . Gounod. 

The band was 'then conveyed to Sconnelltown where a halt 
was made and patriotic selections performed. From this point 
an almost continuous procession of people followed the band 
to Birmingham meetinghouse, where the following selections 
were rendered : 

March — " Tannhaeuser," . . . Wagner. 

Selection — " II Trovatore," . . . Verdi. 

Selection—" Goblin's Frolic," . . O'Niel. 

Selection — " Robin Hood," . R. de Koven. 
Selection — Rossini's " Stabat Mater," Ar. by Meyrelles. 

Selection — " Bohemian Girl," . . . Balfe. 

March — " Directorate," . . . Sousa. 

Mrs. S. Howard Pierce and Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Darling- 
ton, most generously offered their lawns and houses in the 
neighborhood of the meetinghouse, for the accommodation of 
the committees of the Historical Society and their guests. A 
bountiful picnic lunch was spread on the Darlington lawn, im- 
mediately adjoining the meetinghouse. The tables were taste- 
fully decorated with the French and American colors, by the 
Committee on Entertainment and their efficient aids. Among 
the guests who honored the occasion with their presence were 
M. Louis Vossion, French Consul at Philadelphia, and Mdm. 




Phila. Engraving Co. 



THE JOHN M. ROGERS PRESS, WlL. . DEL 



CAPT. WILLIAM WAYNE. 



Great-grandson of Gen. Anthony Wayne, one of the 
commanding officers in the battle of Brandywine. 



LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 



Rigueur, who accompanied him, and many distinguished sons 
of Chester county, some of whom had seen Gen. Lafayette on 
his triumphal visit to Chester county in 1825. Letters of con- 
gratulation and regret were received from three of the de- 
scendants of Gen. Lafayette ( printed in the appendix ). 

Immediately after lunch the assembled multitude, escorted by 
Col. Alfred Rupert and his staff of mounted aids, the militia 
and the Phcenix Military band, repaired to the speaker's stand 
which had been decorated with the French and American 
colors. At the side of the stand was the shaft draped with 
French and American flags. The band took a position on the 
south side of the stand, immediately in front of the shaft. The 
militia formed a hollow square, with the shaft in the center. 
The high embankment on the opposite side of the road was 
packed with people, in the form of an immense amphitheatre, 
and around the stand there was " a sea of upturned faces " as 
far as the voice could reach and beyond. 

The meeting was called to order shortly after two o'clock by 
the president of the Historical Society, Prof. Geo. M. Philips, 
who announced the following organization : 



Horace A. Beale, 
Wm. R. Bingham, D. D 
Dan'l G. Brinton, M. D. 
Col. Jos. P. Brinton, 
Hon. Wm. Butler, 
Isaac A. Cleaver, 
R. T. Cornwell, 
Richard Darlington, 
Hon. S. Darlington, 
Hugh DeHaven, 
Samuel R. Downing, 
Thomas J. Edge, 
Rev. Joseph S. Evans, 
Hon. Wm. Evans, 
J. R. Everhart, M. D., 
H. H. Gilkyson, 
Jesse C. Green, D. D. S 
Col. H. R. Guss, 
W. D. Hartman, M. D., 
Wm. M. Hayes, 
Willis P. Hazard, 
Hon. Jos. Hemphill, 
Josiah Hoopes, 
D. W. Howard, 
Charles E. Pugh, 



President : Capt. William 

Vice-Presidents : 
Robert L. Pyle, 
Paul S. Reeves, 
Alfred P. Reid, 
I. N. Rendall, D. D., 
Evans Rogers, 
J.T. Rothrock, M. D., 
Julius F. Sachse, 
Alfred Sharpless, 
Isaac Sharpless, 
Rev. M. Sheeleigh, 
Samuel R. Shipley, 
William T. Smedley, 
Charles Huston, M. D., 
William W. Jefferis, 
William J. Latta, 
Hon. Wayne MacVeagh, 
B.' Frank March, 
George L. Maris, 
Clara Marshall, M. D., 
Wm. P. Marshall, 
Isaac Massey, M. D., 
James D. McClellan, 
Thomas H. Montgomery, 
Hon. D. F. Moore, 
J. Cheston Morris, M. D., 



Wayne. 



Hon. S. E. Nivin, 
Mrs. S. L. Oberholtzer, 
Thomas E. Parke, M. D., 
Col. J. A. M. Passmore, 
Samuel Pennock, 
Gen. G. A. Pennypacker, 
Hon. Samuel Pennypacker, 
Hon. Thomas J. Philips, 
John J. Pinkerton, 
Jacob Price, M. D., 
Joseph Price, M. D., 
Hon. Wm. P. Snyder, 
Harris E. Sproat, 
Hon. T. K. Stubbs, 
Marshall Swayne, 
Mrs. Bayard Taylor, 
J. Preston Thomas, 
Benj. Thompson, M. D., 
Henry C. Townsend, 
Joseph B. Townsend, 
Hon. Wm. B. Waddell, 
Joseph S. Walton, 
Marshall S. Way, 
W. W. Woodruff, 
Hon. John Russell Young. 



14 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Secretaries : 

Joseph H. Baldwin, W.W.Polk, Addison Jones, 

Henry L. Brinton, J. O. K. Robarts, Frank L. Kreamer, 

E. P. Cloud, Mark F. Sullivan, Morris Lloyd, 

James B. Fisher, Nathan P. Walton, S. Edward Paschall, 

George R. Guss, Edward Baumgard, A. F. Potts, 

Curtis H. Hannum, W. R. Carney, Harry L. Skeen, 

Wm. J. Kauffman, Jesse I. Dauman, W. W. Thomson, 

Walter H. Lewis, F. H. Graves, Wm. Wayne, Jr. 

Wm. G. Matson, Theodore D. Hadley, 

The exercises were then conducted by Capt. Wayne, in the 
following order: 

i. Paraphrase, " Nearer My God to Thee," (arranged by D. W. 
Reeves,) by the Phoenix Military Band. 

2. Prayer by Owen Philips Eachus, D. D., of Hightstown, N. J. 

3. Cornet Duet, "Something to Adore" (Boos), by L. B. 

and H. F. Vanderslice. 

4. Unveiling of the Shaft, by M. Louis Vossion, French Con- 

sul at Philadelphia, assisted by Madame Rigueur. 

5. Selection," Marseillaise" (arranged by L. B. Vanderslice), 

by the Phoenix Military Band. 

6. Presentation of Shaft for Dedication by James Monaghan. 

7. Dedication of Shaft by Prof. Geo. M. Philips. 

8. Hymn, " America "( arranged by L. B. Vanderslice ), by 

the Phoenix Military Band. 

9. Placing of Wreath on Shaft by James McClellan Ruth, on 

behalf of the West Chester Public schools. 

10. Historical Address by Gilbert Cope. 

11. Reading of T. Buchanan Read's "Fight at the Ford," by 

Miss Harriet Trapp. 

12. Oration by Hon. Charlton T. Lewis, of New York. 

13. Benediction by Rev. William L. Bull. 

A salute of thirteen guns by the McCall Post firing squad 
closed the exercises of the day. 

The following are the exercises in full : 

Prayer by Dr. Owen P. Eachus. 

O God of our fathers, Thou art our God. Thou hast ever 
watched over us and kept us by Thine own power. In the 
dark and troublous times Thou wast our light and our help. 
As a Father and an Almighty Friend, Thou didst stand by 
us, and, in Thy great mercy, didst raise up men to stand by us. 



a w 



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The John M. Rogers Press, Wil., Dei,. 



OWEN PHILIPS EACHES, D. D. 

Son of Eber and Hannah (Philips) Eaehes, daughter of 

Lieut. Josiah Philips of the Revolutionary army, 

son of Joseph Philips who emigrated from 

Wales to Pennsylvania in 1755. 



LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 15 

We desire to thank Thee this day, as a people, that in Thy 
great power Thou didst beget us as a nation ; that in Thy great 
mercy Thou didst uphold us; that in Thy great wisdom Thou 
didst lead us as with the pillar of cloud and fire. We pray Thee 
to grant us this day and always the spirit of a tender remem- 
brance of the ways in which Thou hast led us and of the men 
whom Thou didst clothe with power and wisdom to lead us as 
a people. 

Help us this day to consecrate ourselves to Thy service, to 
dedicate ourselves with a holy devotion to the cause of holy 
living and a holy interest in the preservation of our land. 
Make Thou our land a place where Thy holy habitation shall 
be, and where Thy wisdom shall always be ours, and where 
Thy power shall be about us for our protection. Make us and 
keep us a people after Thine own heart. Help us to make our 
land a holy land wherein righteousness, and justice, and broth- 
erly love, and love for all good things shall dwell. May the 
God of peace and holiness abide with us and in us. 

O God bless us, our land, our homes, our institutions, our 
laws. Help us to reverence Thee, to love Thee, to fear Thee 
with a holy fear, to keep Thy laws, to write them on the tab- 
lets of our hearts, to write them in our statutes. Greatly and 
richly bless the oncoming men and women that they may live 
worthy of their great privileges. 

We thank Thee for this our great land, with its rich mem- 
ories of the past and its bright hopes for the days to come. 
May God grant to us, through Jesus Christ, that to us may be 
ministered at last an entrance into a better country, even an 
heavenly. 

Now unto Him that is able to guard you from stumbling and 
to set you before the presence of His glory without blemish with 
exceeding joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before 
all time, and now, and forevermore. Amen. 



1 6 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

ADDRESS AT UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL SHAFT 

BY M. LOUIS VOSSION. 

Ladies and Gentlemen of Chester County : It is a great 
honor for me to unveil this memorial shaft to my distinguished 
countryman, General Marquis de Lafayette. The tale of the 
friendly relations between France and the struggling North 
American colonies has been told very often, to be sure, but it 
is ever interesting. General Lafayette knew neither your country 
nor your people; he did not speak English; but he came all 
the same to join his efforts to yours in your struggle for liberty. 
How well he succeeded is known by all. My only wish is 
that in the future such grand mutual souvenirs shall never be 
forgotten in our two great countries. I thank you in the name 
of France for the honor granted to General Lafayette in the 
erection of this memorial, which I have been so kindly invited 
to unveil by the Chester County Historical Society. 

PRESENTATION OF SHAFT FOR DEDICATION 

BY JAMES MONAGHAN. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : As chairman of the 
committee to procure this memorial shaft, it is my duty to re- 
port the result of our labors. 

The Chester County Historical Society was organized in the 
spring of 1893. Its object, as expressed in its charter, is "the 
acquisition and preservation of property and information of 
historic value or interest to the people of Chester County." 
At a special meeting of the society, held on the 4th of July of 
the same year, it was suggested that the anniversary of the 
struggle on the Brandywine should be set apart in the schools 
of the county as " Brandywine Day " and be observed by patri- 
otic exercises. It was also resolved that the places of historic 
interest in Chester county should be marked by appropriate 
memorials. Paoli had been remembered; Valley Forge was 
in the care of the state; the far famed Brandywine, consecrated 
to two nations by the blood of Lafayette, remained unmarked. 
It was proposed not only to mark this field of battle and the 
position of the contending forces, but the lines of march, so that 
they may be traced on the roads from one end of the county to 



F. GUTEKUNST, PHOTO. 



Fhiua. Engraving Co. 



The John m. Rogers Press, Wil., Del. 



JAMES MONAGHAN, M. A. 



Son of J. J. and Rebecca (Murdagh) Monaghan, daughter of 

Robert Murdagh, son of Joseph Murdagh who 

was a Revolutionary soldier. 



LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 17 

the other. The work was undertaken with enthusiasm by the 
schools, and every school house in the county rang with songs 
and patriotic sentiments. The money for the present shaft was 
soon raised by the school children and citizens. We are proud 
to record that many of the sums were given, like the widow's 
mite, from a full heart, although in penny contributions. It 
should be stated that the names of all contributors to this shaft 
and to the continuation of the work will be preserved in the 
archives of the Historical Society, in a memorial volume, 
which will be a roll of honor for future generations. We hope 
to record therein all the names of the loyal sons and daughters 
of Chester county. 

This is no monument to Lafayette. He needs no imposing 
column. He has a proud and living monument in the millions 
of free people in our own loved land, and in that other wonder- 
ful sister republic, with the presence of whose official rep- 
resentative we are honored to-day. 

Nor is this shaft meant to glorify the spirit of war. The 
sentiment which we wish to perpetuate is inscribed on this 
shaft, from the lips of Lafayette himself: 

"May the blood spilled by thousands, with 
equal merit in the cause, of independence and 
freedom, be to ensuing generations an enternal 
pledge of unalloyed Republicanism, Federal 
Union, Public Prosperity and Domestic Happi- 
ness." — Lafayette's Toast, at West Chester, July 
26, 1825. 

The remaining inscriptions are as follows : 

( Front.) 

On the Rising Ground 

A Short Distance South of This Spot 

LAFAYETTE 

Was Wounded at the Battle of Brandywine, 
September, nth, 1777. 

( Right Side.) 

Erected 

By the Citizens and School Children 

Of Chester County, Pa., 

Under the Auspices of the 

Chester County Historical Society, 

September nth, 1895. 



i8 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

(Back.) 
" The honor of having mingled my blood with 
that of many other American soldiers, on the 
heights of the Brandywine, has been to me a 
source of pride and delight." — Extract from 
Lafayette's speech at West Chester, July 26, 1825. 

The Roman-Corinthian column was selected by the com- 
mittee as an appropriate memorial shaft, used as it has been for 
such purposes from the earliest classic days of Greece and 
Rome, and being as it is the most perfect form of the plastic 
art. It will stand as a landmark on the summit of this beauti- 
ful hill. It is bound with a laurel wreath and with a band of 
thirteen stars representing the thirteen struggling colonies. It 
is surmounted by a sphere, symbol of immortality, of the perfect 
life, of that Catholic spirit which recognizes the universal 
brotherhood of man. Is not this a fitting tribute to the broad- 
minded patriot Lafayette? 

After these exercises are over this shaft will be protected by 
an iron railing, ornamented with the fleur de lis, the national 
flower of France. 

It is fitting that I should, on this occasion, acknowledge our 
indebtedness to the makers of this memorial column, Messrs. 
Stephens & Co., of Philadelphia, for their uniform courtesy and 
untiring efforts to make their work a credit to themselves and 
worthy of the purpose for which it is intended. 

And now, on behalf of the committee appointed to procure 
this memorial shaft, I place it in your hands for purposes of 
dedication. 

DEDICATION OF MEMORIAL SHAFT 

BY PROF. GEORGE M. PHILIPS. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : On behalf of the 
Chester County Historical Society, I accept this memorial. It 
is unpretentious, but it commemorates an event of highest im- 
portance. For here, one hundred and eighteen years ago, in 
the blood of this gallant French youth, was cemented the alli- 
ance between France and the United States, which made our 
freedom and our nationality a possibility. Nor did its influence 
end with the accomplishment of American independence at 




The John m. Rogers Press, 



GEORGE MORRIS PHILIPS, Ph. D. 



Son of John M. Philips, son of George Philips, son of John Philips, 
a Revolutionary soldier, son of Joseph Philips who emi- 
grated from Wales to Pennsylvania in 1755. 




The John M. Rogers press, Wil., Del. 



GILBERT COPE. 

Son of Joseph Cope, son of Joseph Cope, son of John Cope, 

son of Oliver Cope, who emigrated from Avebury, 

Wiltshire, England in 1682 or 3. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 19 

Yorktown, for never since that day has the march of the world 
towards universal freedom halted. 

We have erected this memorial to this " hero of two conti- 
nents," whose sympathy and service were not confined to the 
cause of humanity in his own country, great and distinguished 
as they were there, but who risked all that the generosity of 
fortune and honor could give to aid the well nigh hopeless 
cause of a few struggling colonies in the wilds of a new world. 
And in erecting this shaft to the memory of Lafayette, we dedi- 
cate it as well to the cause of human freedom. The echoes of 
war have long since died away from these hills, never we hope 
to return. But the greatest victories of humanity are those of 
peace, and many such remain to be won. We have erected 
this memorial in the hope that it may inspire many to a nobler 
and more unselfish patriotism, to a willingness to die for their 
country as their forefathers died here, and to the still higher 
service of living for that country an unselfish, noble and public- 
spirited life. 

And now, my fellow-citizens, we this day dedicate this me- 
morial to the memory of America's noblest friend, General La- 
fayette, and to the cause of freedom and humanity in America 
and in the world. 

HISTORICAL ADDRESS 

BY GILBERT COPE. 

Amidst the shifting scenes of the Revolution it fell to the lot 
of this fair landscape to be the arena of war, horrible war ! 
Time will not suffice to enter upon an exhaustive narrative of 
the battle of Brandywine ( which, by the way, one of our en- 
terprising citizens has recently undertaken to re-christen the 
battle of Birmingham ), and I will confine my remarks princi- 
pally to those events which occurred in this immediate vicinity. 

The British forces having occupied Boston and New York 
city, attempted, toward the close of the year 1776, to reach 
Philadelphia by crossing New Jersey to the Delaware, at Tren- 
ton, but by a series of bold and brilliant maneuvers, Washing- 
ton drove them back toward New York, and the armies soon 
after went into winter quarters. 



20 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

In the spring of 1777 each party seemed to await the move- 
ments of the other, but at length, on the last day of June, the 
British moved over to Staten Island ; a week later embarked on 
a fleet of vessels, and on the 23d of July sailed for the Chesa- 
peake Bay. Their destination was kept a secret and the American 
forces were left in a state of painful uncertainty until news came 
that the fleet had been seen on the 8th of August to the south 
of Delaware Bay. On the 22d they were known to have ar- 
rived in the Chesapeake, and on the 25th they landed in the 
Elk River about six miles below Elkton, Md. 

On the 24th of August, Washington had marched the 
American army through Philadelphia on the way to Wilming- 
ton, near which the main body remained till the 5th of Septem- 
ber, when they moved forward to Newport and occupied a 
position between that place and Red Clay Creek. Previous to 
this General Maxwell, with some light troops, had advanced to 
Iron Hill, near the Maryland line, where they had a sharp 
skirmish with some British troops under Cornwallis, who drove 
him back with a loss of forty killed and wounded. 

The enemy spread themselves over the country and advanced 
leisurely toward Philadelphia. They numbered about 18,000 
men, under General Howe as commander in-chief. They were 
divided into two columns, the one under Lord Cornwallis and 
the other under General Knyphausen. To oppose these Wash- 
ington had perhaps 12,000, of whom about 3,000 were untried 
militia, hastily collected from the neighboring counties. 

Becoming convinced from the movements of the enemy that 
they designed to pass him in the northward, he withdrew to 
the east side of the Brandywine at Chadds' Ford, on the night 
of the 8th of September. The next day Knyphausen's division 
entered Chester county and encamped at New Garden and 
Kennett Square, while that of Cornwallis remained a short 
distance below Hockessin meetinghouse. On the 10th they 
united at Kennett Square, and Knyphausen advanced about 
three miles toward Chadds' Ford, and encamped near the 
present Longwood meetinghouse. 

Early in the morning of the nth information was received 
at Chadds' Ford that the whole British army was in motion and 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 21 

the troops were at once prepared to receive them. The militia 
under General Armstrong guarded the two fords below. Gen- 
eral Sullivan had been posted the evening before at Brinton's 
Ford. Writing on October 25th following, he says: "I was 
ordered to take post there with my main body, to send a guard 
to the next ford, about a mile and a-half above me; another to 
Jones' Ford, [Lenape], one and a-half miles still higher up, and 
another to Buffenton's ford [forks of the creek], a mile above 
that, immediately upon my arrival. I detached the Delaware 
Regiment to the first ford, one battalion of Hazen's to Jones' 
and another to Buffenton's, when I received those orders, as I 
ever had been of the opinion that the enemy would endeavor 
to turn our right. I inquired of His Excellency whether there 
were no fords still higher up, to which the person who was 
then giving him information of the country replied, there are 
none within twelve miles ; the roads leading to, and from which, 
are almost inaccessible. 

Washington, with Wayne, Greene, Stirling and Stephen, re- 
mained at Chadds' Ford, where a breastwork had been thrown 
up and Proctor's Artillery placed to dispute the passage of the 
stream. Maxwell, with his light troops, was on the west side 
of the creek to receive the first fire, and perhaps about ten 
o'clock was driven across the stream after sharp skirmishing. 
Considerable firing occurred between the opposing forces yet 
the enemy seemed slow to force a passage, for which the reason 
was not at first apparent. 

The day was warm and the morning foggy, rendering the 
movements of the troops less noticeable. General Howe, with 
about 7,000 men under Cornwallis, instead of advancing toward 
Chadds' Ford, had turned northward from a point a mile east 
of Kennett Square, passing just west of Red Lion Tavern, and 
between the residences of William Hickman and George Baker, 
in Pocopson, when by a road since vacated, they crossed the 
western branch of the Brandy wine at Trimble's Ford. Thence 
they turned eastward, over the hills, passing what is known as 
Fairview School House, in East Bradford, to JefTeris Ford on 
the eastern branch, and from this point southward by way of 
Sconnelltown, Strode's mill and Osborne's hill to Birmingham 



22 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Meeting. Starting about three hours earlier than Knyphausen 
they hoped to make the circuit and fall upon the rear of the 
Americans with a crushing blow ; but the distance must have 
proved greater than expected, and they did not reach Sconnell- 
town till after i o'clock, where they rested for more than an 
hour. The most graphic description of any of the events 
of the day will be found in the narrative of Joseph Townsend, 
a witness to the movements of Cornwallis' army from JefTeris' 
Ford to Birmingham. 

Meanwhile a report had reached Washington that a large 
portion of the British forces had been seen moving northward, 
and he ordered Sullivan to cross the stream and attack those in 
front, hoping to defeat them before the arrival of the others. 
Just then a contradictory statement was brought by a Major 
Spear, or Spicer, as variously written, who claimed to have 
passed over the road they must have taken without seeing any 
signs of the enemy. At length Thomas Cheyney, of Thorn- 
bury township, came galloping into the presence of Washington, 
his horse in a lather of foam, and asserted that he had seen and 
been fired a* by the British troops. At first incredulous, 
Washington was soon convinced of the truth of the statement, 
but it was now too late to carry out the plan of attacking Knyp- 
hausen in his own position. 

In point of time it is believed that the first report of Howe's 
circuitous march was received by Washington soon after eleven. 
His order to Sullivan to cross was not later than half-past. By 
twelve the contradictory reports of Major Spear and Sergeant 
Tucker were forwarded. It was after two when the fact became 
known to Washington that the British army was actually com- 
ing down the left bank of the Brandywine. Then it was de- 
termined that the divisions of Sullivan, Sterling and Stephen, 
should advance to meet them with orders to fight them where- 
ever found. According to some authorities Sterling and 
Stephen were ordered to proceed to Birmingham Meeting before 
the facts were fully known, yet this is doubtful, although by 
going a more direct route they probably were somewhat earlier 
on the ground than Sullivan. 

The latter says : " At half-past two I received orders to march 



ff a 
s- as 
§ o 




HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 23 

with my division, to join with, and take command of that and 
two others to oppose the enemy, who were coming down on 
the right flank of our army. I neither knew where the enemy 
were, nor what route the other two divisions were to take, and 
of course could not determine where I should form a junction 
with them. I began my march in a few minutes after I received 
my orders, and had not marched a mile when I met Colonel 
Hazen and his regiment, which had been stationed at a ford three 
miles above, who informed me that the enemy were close upon 
his heels, and that I might depend that the main part of the 
British army were there, although I knew the report sent to 
headquarters made them but two brigades. As I knew Colonel 
Hazen to be an old officer and a good judge of numbers, I gave 
credence to his report in preference to the intelligence before 
received. While I was conversing with Colonel Hazen, and 
our troops still upon the march, the enemy headed us in the 
road about forty rods from our advanced guard. I then found 
it necessary to turn off to the right to form, and so got nearer 
to the other two divisions, which I at that moment discovered 
drawn up on an eminence, both in the rear and to the right of 
the place I then was at. I ordered Colonel Hazen's regiment 
to pass a hollow way, file off to the right, and face, to cover the 
artillery. The enemy, seeing this, did not press on, but gave 
me time to form my division on an advantageous height in a 
line with the other divisions, but almost half a mile to the left. 
I then rode on to consult the other general officers, who, upon 
receiving information that the enemy were endeavoring to out- 
flank us on the right, were unanimously of opinion that my 
division should be brought on to join the others, and that the 
whole should incline further to the right to prevent our being 
outflanked ; but while my division was marching on, and before 
it was possible for them to form to advantage, the enemy press- 
ed on with rapidity and attacked them, which threw them into 
some kind of confusion. I had taken post myself in the centre, 
with the artillery, and ordered it to play briskly to stop the pro- 
gress of the enemy and to give the broken troops time to rally 
and form in the rear of where I was with the artillery. I sent 
off four aides-de-camp for this purpose and went myself, but all 



24 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

in vain. No sooner did I form one party, but that which I had 
before formed ran off, and even at times when I, though on 
horseback and in front of them, apprehended no danger. I then 
left them to be rallied by their own officers and my aides-de- 
camp. I repaired to the hill where our artillery was, which 
by this time began to feel the effects of the enemy's fire. 

"This hill commanded both the right and left of our line, 
and, if carried by the enemy, I knew would instantly bring on a 
total rout and make a retreat very difficult. I therefore de- 
termined to hold it as long as possible, to give Lord Stirling's 
and General Stephen's divisions, which yet stood firm, as much 
assistance from the artillery as possible, and to give Colonel 
Hazen's, Dayton's and Ogden's regiments, which still stood 
firm on our left, the same advantage, and to cover the broken 
troops of my division, and to give them an opportunity to rally 
and come to our assistance, which some of them did, and others 
could not by their officers be brought to do anything but fly. 
The enemy soon began to bend their principal force against 
the hill, and the fire was close and heavy for a long time, and 
soon became general. Lord Stirling and General Conway, 
with their aides-de-camp, were with me on the hill, and exerted 
themselves beyond description to keep up the troops. Five 
times did the enemy drive our troops from the hill, and as often 
was it regained, and the summit often disputed almost muzzle 
to muzzle 

" The general fire of the line lasted an hour and forty minutes, 
fifty-one minutes of which the hill was disputed almost muzzle 
to muzzle, in' such a manner that General Conway, who has 
seen much service, says he never saw so close and severe a fire. 
On the right, where General Stephen was, it was long and se- 
vere, and on the left considerable. When we found the right 
and left oppressed by numbers and giving way on all quarters, 
we were obliged to abandon the hill we had so long contended 
for, but not till we had almost covered the ground between that 
and Birmingham meetinghouse with the dead bodies of the 
enemy." * 

* Amory's Life of Sullivan, p. 49. 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 25 

Respecting the divisions of Stirling and Stephen, another ac- 
count * states that they formed on an advantageous piece of 
ground, chiefly within what is now the lawn of Mrs. Biddle, 
both flanks being covered with a thick wood. Stirling's de- 
tachment advanced to within a short distance of the meeting- 
house, where he awaited the approach of the enemy. After 
waiting some time their near approach was announced, when 
Stirling endeavored to secure the highest ground in the imme- 
diate vicinity of the meetinghouse, but when he reached that 
point the British had so nearly gained it that he could not have 
formed before they would have been upon him. In this di- 
lemma he threw a small force into the graveyard, which was 
inclosed with a stone wall, for the purpose of giving the enemy 
employment until he could form his men on rising ground in 
the rear. This body, after having made an obstinate resistance, 
rejoined the main division. 

To my view, it appears that Sullivan, marching from Brinton's 
Ford, arrived at and was joined by Hazen on what is known as 
the Street Road, a short distance west of the cross roads north 
of the meetinghouse. Hazen had probably come from Lenape 
by way of the old road nearly parallel with the Sconnelltown 
road, and his arrival was nearly coincident with that of the 
British. Sullivan turned into the field south of the Street Road 
and formed just north of the present Norris mansion, sending 
Hazen around to the west and south of this elevation, which 
would take his command out of view of the enemy until 
the latter had advanced nearly to the meetinghouse. It does 
not appear to me that there was any firing from Sullivan's forces 
while they were in this first position, and the forming there was 
probably that which was watched by General Howe and staff 
from Osborne's Hill. The first firing was doubtless from Stir- 
ling's forces, and before Sullivan had reached his second posi- 
tion the enemy had advanced up the hill and opened fire upon 
him. 

Assured by the growing din of battle that a violent conflict 
was raging on this height, Washington felt that his presence 

* J. Smith Futhey, History of Chester County, p. 71. 



26 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

was needed here. Leaving Wayne to keep Knyphausen in 
check, and ordering Greene to bring his division up as quickly 
as possible, he pressed into his service, as guide, one Joseph 
Brown of that locality, mounted on the horse of one of his 
aids, and galloped up from Chadds' Ford by the shortest route. 
Brown used to relate that his horse took all the fences as he 
came to them, followed closely by that of Washington, and the 
words, " Push on, old man, push on," were continually ringing 
in his ears. 

Washington reached Sullivan as the forces of the latter were 
beginning to break, and endeavored in vain to rally them. 
Greene's division, composed of the brigades of Weedon and 
Muhlenberg, is said to have marched up from Chadds' Ford in 
forty-five minutes. When they reached the road over which 
the fugitives were passing toward Dilworthtown, just beyond 
" Sandy Hollow," Weedon's brigade was halted in a plowed field 
on the Bennett farm, while that of Muhlenberg, with Greene at 
its head, advanced to meet the enemy and check pursuit. They 
were gradually forced back, however, beyond Weedon's position, 
where some of the hottest firing of the day took place. Lieu- 
tenant James McMichael, of Walter Stewart's regiment, thus 
records in his diary : " We took the front and attacked the 
enemy at 5.30 p. m., and being engaged with their grand army, 
we at first were obliged to retreat a few yards and formed in an 
open field, when we fought without giving way on either side 
until dark." " This day, for a severe and successive engage- 
ment, exceeded all I ever saw. Our regiment fought at one 
stand about an hour, under incessant fire, and yet the loss was 
less than at Long Island ; neither were we so near each other 
as at Princeton, our common distance being about 50 yards." 

Being forced to give way to a superior force, the Americans 
retreated to Chester. General Wayne, at Chadds' Ford, offered 
a determined opposition to the advance of Knyphausen, but, 
learning that the right wing of the army was in retreat, he, too, 
withdrew and joined the others at Chester. 

And now as to the spot where Lafayette was wounded : Some 
of our local historians, under the mistaken impression that he 
remained with Washington, believe that he was not in the ear- 



HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 27 

lier part of the battle, and therefore must have been wounded 
in Bennett's field. His Memoirs show, however, that when he 
found that Sullivan was likely to meet the first brunt of battle, 
he Obtained permission from Washington to attach himself to 
the staff of that officer. He, therefore, was under fire from the 
first, and while it is not clear from his Memoirs just when he was 
wounded, it is rather to be inferred that it was before Sullivan's 
division was forced from this height, after which it does not ap- 
pear that they made a stand. I am aware that this will be dis- 
puted by some, and even the late Dr. Wm. Darlington may be 
quoted on their side. He says that Captain Joseph McClellan, 
with his company, occupied the extreme left of the line here 
and was just in front of the road coming from the meeting- 
house where it makes the angle near the western part of Mrs. 
Biddle's lawn. And further " Captain McClellan stated that in 
his retreat across Bennett's field, immediately south of Wistar's 
woods — a field strewn with musket balls for many years after 
the war — he saw General Lafayette in that field on horse-back, 
and was very confident the wound of the young Frenchman 
was there received very soon afterward, probably while dis- 
mounted and aiding to rally the retreating men." It is evident 
that Captain McClellan did not know when or where Lafayette 
was wounded, and Dr. Darlington does not appear to have 
known that the latter was with Sullivan all the afternoon. 

The late Abraham Darlington, who lived at the foot of this 
slope, to the northward, presented Lafayette with some musket 
balls from the battlefield in 1825, and was told by the General 
that it was near this spot, and in sight of the meetinghouse, 
that he was wounded.* 

My friend, General W. W. H. Davis, of Doylestown, claims 
that his grandfather assisted in carrying Lafayette off the field 
of battle, and my friend William Logan, of West Chester dur- 
ing the summer, makes the same claim for his grandfather. I 
have it also from another source that two brothers by the name 
of Dunwoody, from Honeybrook, performed the same gallant 
service. As a matter of fact the wound did not at once disable 

*For evidence pro and con, see Appendix B. 



28 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Lafayette from efforts to rally the disordered ranks, but at 
length, from loss of blood, he, as stated in his Memoirs, was in- 
debted to his aide for assistance in remounting his horse. 

Some erroneous ideas have resulted from the false location 
of " Wistar's Woods " on an old map of the battlefield. It lay 
on the north side of the road to Dilworthtown and beyond 
"Sandy Hollow." 

This is but a brief review of the events of the day, and many 
interesting facts are necessarily omitted for want of time. 
Doubtless some future student of local history will be able to 
harmonize apparent contradictions and present a more intelli- 
gible account of the momentous occurrences of the day. 

THE FIGHT AT THE FORD. 

From T. Buchanan Read's " Wagoner of the Alleghenies ;" 
Read by Miss Harriet Trapp. 

Wrapt in a friendly cloud of mist, 

At morn the wagoner led us out, 

And, following our bold leader's shout, 

We put the pickets oft to rout, 
Oft trampling down a scouting list, 

And oft upon the foeman's flanks 

We dealt the blow their startled ranks 
Scarce knew where to resist. 

For hours we sailed from rear to front, 

And down their side, from front to rear : 
Death and confusion paid the brunt 

Wherever we came near. 
Anon was heard the opening roar 
Which called us to the bristling shore ; 
And now the fearful scene was won 
Where deadly gun replied to gun, 
And pistol answered pistol flash, 
And then the fiery, sudden dash 

Of hand to hand, and sword to sword, 
While in the stream, with plunge and splash, 

Though thrice our number on us poured, 
We dealt the thick foe crash for crash, 

And strove to hold the ford. 



THE FIGHT AT THE FORD. 29 

The hour was loud, but louder still 

Anon the rage of battle roared 
Its wild and murderous will ; 

From Jefferis down to Wistar's Ford, 

From Jones to Chadds the cannon poured, 
While thundered Osborne Hill. 
Oh, ne'er before fled holy calm 

From out its sainted house of prayer 

So frighted through the trembling air 
As from that shrine of Birmingham ! 

Oft through the opening cloud we scanned 
The shouting leaders, sword in hand, 

Directing the tumultuous scene ; 
There galloped Maxwell, gallant Bland 

The poet warrior, while between, 
Ringing o'er all his loud command, 

Dashed the intrepid Greene. 

Here Sullivan in fury trooped, 

There Weedon like an eagle swooped, 

With Muhlenberg, — where they were grouped 

The invader dearly earned his gains, — 
And ( where the mad should only be 
The fiercest champion of the free ) 

The loudest trumpet call was Wayne's ; 
While in a gale of battle glee, 

With rapid sword and pistol dealing 

The blows which set the foemen reeling, 
Sped ''light-horse Harry Lee." 
And once or twice our eye descried, 
Mid clouds a moment blown aside, 

With lifted hand that well might wield 

The thunders of the storming field, 
The Jove of battle ride ! 
And every eye new courage won 
Which gazed that hour on Washington. 



For hours the scene was still the same, — 
A sleet of lead mid sheets of flame ; 
The hot hail round us hissed and roared, 
Through clouds of seething sulphur poured, 

Until — we knew not how or why — 
The day was lost ! Our saddened view 
Between the smoke-wreaths' opening wrack 
Beheld the patriots falling back : 



30 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

The hour of victory had gone by ! 
Still fighting, we our line withdrew 
Scorning to yield or fly. 

And now we gained a sheltering wood, 
Where, (oh, it was a sight to whet 
The sword of vengeance keener yet ! ) 

Pale with the streaming loss of blood, 
By hireling foemen still beset, 

Beside his foaming charger stood 
The wounded, gallant Lafayette. 

We swept between, with scathing blow, 
Until his bleeding wound was bound : 

Each drop of his the cloven foe 
Paid double to the crimson ground, 

Until from off that field forlorn 

The noblest son of France was borne. 



THE HERO OF TWO WORLDS. 

Lafayette Before the Tribunal of History, 
oration by charlton t. lewis. 

Although more than sixty years have passed since the great 
heart of Lafayette ceased to throb for freedom, the world can- 
not yet be said to have passed final judgment on his life and 
manhood. The people of the United States know well one side 
of his nature, one brief period of his long career. To us he is 
the valiant youth, born to wealth and a great title, surrounded 
from childhood by the fascinations of fashionable idleness in the 
most brilliant society of Europe, who yet, at the age of nineteen, 
consecrated his life and fortune to the cause which he deemed 
that of mankind, and crossed the seas as the knight-errant of 
liberty. We remember how quickly he won the love and trust 
of the greatest of men. Washington, the ascendancy of whose 
manhood among his fellows was such that he can scarcely be 
said to have had more than two intimate friends, is now called 
by sixty millions of freemen the father of his country, but he, to 
his last days, delighted to call Lafayette his son. Lafayett's valor 




Sterry, Albany, N. y., Photo. 



Phila. Engraving Co. 



The John m. Rogers Press, wiu., Del. 



CHARLTON T. LEWIS, Ph. D. 



Son of Joseph J. Lewis, son of Enoch Lewis, son of Evan Lewis, 

son of John Lewis, son of Henry Lewis, son of Henry 

Lewis, son of Evan Lewis who emigrated 

from Wales to Pennsylvania in 1682. 



OR A TION B Y MR. LE WIS. 3 1 

at Brandywine, his skill at Gloucester, his fortitude at Valley 
Forge, his loyalty to Washington in refusing an independent 
and co-ordinate command against Canada are remembered here. 
We recall with gratitude, too, the weight of his example and 
influence in determining the alliance of France, without which 
we might have been born colonists and subjects of Great 
Britain. It is part of our own history, that throughout the long 
and weary struggle he bated no jot of heart or hope, but bore 
himself as the chevalier without fear and without reproach, un- 
til the crowning campaign in Virginia, where the veteran Corn- 
wallis, while his British masters were yet reading Clinton's boast 
that Lafayette could not escape him, was eluded, out-generalled 
and overwhelmed, and gave up his sword and his army at York- 
town. Our historians tell us, too, how the young man, now 
ripened to one of the world's leaders in action, returned to 
France, contributed largely to hasten and to shape the memor- 
able treaty of 1783, and how his letter from Cadiz was the first 
announcement to Washington and to Congress of peace, and of 
the recognized existence, as one among the nations, of the Uni- 
ted States of America.* 

This is in outline his career as described in the history of our 
own dear land, and it is enough to give the name of Lafayette 
a high place on the roll of our nation's worthies.f There 
is no other life of his time so moved by the spirit of 
chivalry, so filled with details of romance. The lofty class 
pride of the old French noblesse, the generous enthusiasm for 
every worthy cause, veiled under a self-restraint which never 
permits hurry or expresses passion; the elaborate courtesy 
which at once breathes respect for others and commands it from 
all ; the simple directness of speech and action, and the perfect 
suppression of disturbing personal motives in the pursuit of 
worthy ends, these characteristics excite an interest in the man, 
which is heightened by his achievements and his sufferings, by 



* Letter to Washington, dated Cadiz, Feb. 5, 1783 : Memoires, 11, pp. 
56-60. 

fThe most complete account of Lafayette's part in the War of Inde- 
pendence is the work of Charlemagne Tower, " Lafayette in the Ameri- 
can Revolution," two vols., New York, 1894. 



32 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

the amazing boldness of his plans, and the sharp and violent 
alternations of seemingly hopeless failure and of seemingly 
miraculous success in his great enterprises. No more perfect 
model of the highest, truest bravery has ever lived, whether on 
the battle field, or under the severer tests of social enmities, 
party struggles, or a bed of pain. Thus the historic facts of 
Lafayette's life have in some measure taken the place in our 
youthful minds, which the poetic legends of heroes fill among 
races less rich in truth ; and the fierce light of critical inquiry 
which in our generation has been thrown upon every detail of 
his period has but brought into clearer and bolder relief his 
noble features of mind and heart. 

When, almost half a century after the war, Lafayette, as the 
guest of the nation, revisited its battle fields, it was the services 
rendered in his youth to the cause of independence that were 
remembered, and that prompted the hearts of a great people to 
tender him a reception unparalleled for enthusiasm and moral 
magnificence. And through the seventy years which have 
since elapsed, the popular mind has honored him as the pala- 
din of our revolution, and above all as the hero of Brandy wine. 
This is well, for the work he did was essential to the existence 
of the Union, and deserves its fullest gratitude ; it was a splendid 
achievement of valor guided by wisdom and earned all his fame. 

But when we speak of Lafayette and his place in history, we 
must rise above the boundary lines of nations and of a conti- 
nent, and survey the world. Remember that when he first 
fought for us here he was an infant in law, that when he drew 
his sword for the last time in America he was but twenty-four; 
and that he lived for fifty-three years more one of the most 
conspicuous figures in the stormiest scenes of modern history. 
How did the man fulfill the promise of the youth ? 

If you consult the most popular historians of that epoch, or 
even those of authority, you will be bewildered by their answers. 
All agree that the after-life of Lafayette was like his American 
career in its wonderful variety, its startling and romantic con- 
trasts, its unrivalled fullness of interest. That he was always 
fearless, disinterested, with a passion for freedom, yet with a. 
deep love of public order ; that he was always a model of cour- 



ORA TION B Y MR. LEWIS. 3 3 

tesy, truth and honor ; that his home life was ideal in its pur- 
ity and beauty, and that in great emergencies he rendered his 
country memorable services, is hardly denied.* Yet most of 
these writers qualify the praise of our hero by hints and doubts, 
or by direct charges, now of weakness and irresolution, now of 
excessive vanity, now of lack of political tact or wisdom, or 
again of strange inconsistencies and forgetfulness of his own 
principles. Lamartinef the sentimentalist, CarlyleJ the wor- 
shipper of force, Alison§ the high church tory, unite in this. 
Innumerable tribes of Royalists and Bonapartists have written 
libraries to prove that the general awakening of the human soul 
to freedom, that storm of which the first French Revolution is 
the most terrible outbreak, is the crowning evil of the ages, or 
that " the man on horseback " is the best hope of civilization. 
To all such writers the man whose power and life are the most 
complete embodiment of this movement must always be inex- 
plicable and abhorrent, and when they shall have re-enslaved 
humanity and crushed back the toiling millions into hopeless 
misery under the thrones of anointed kings, or turned the na- 
tions into camps of mutual slaughter for the mirage of imperial 
glory, they will have checked the growing fame of Lafayette, 
but not till then. 

It would be a pleasing task to tell the story of that wonderful 
life, which links the old world with the new ; which brings out 
of the darkness of the old regime its best product, the lovely 
night-blooming flower of the chivalrous soul, and sturdily sets 
forth to clear of their noxious weeds the thousand fields of de- 
graded humanity, to scatter everywhere the seeds of honor, 
bravery, intelligence, purity and courtesy. But a theme of 
many volumes must here be touched in a few sentences ; I can 
but point to some of the many occasions in which Lafayette's 
actions were the hinges of destiny to multitudes, and ask you 

*See especially Mignet, Histoire de la Revolution Francaise, ch. v ; 
Guizot, Memoires pour servir a l'histoire de mon temps, 11, pp. 10-12 ; 
Taine, Revolution Francaise, 11, p. 218. 

t Histoire de la Restauration, vn, 26. 

JThe French Revolution, book in, ch. 4 and often. 

§ History. of Europe from the Fall of Napoleon, ch. xxx, \\ 53, 54, and 
often. 



34 LAFA YETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

to judge whether they merit the condemnation of Bourbon his- 
torians, the contempt of imperialists, the bitter denunciations of 
the apologists for the guillotine,* or even the timid and halting 
praise of many historical philosophers ; or whether, on the other 
hand, his career from the cradle to the grave forms a consistent 
whole, in continuous harmony with the noble romance of his 
boyhood, whose memory brings us here. 

On January 21st, 1782, Lafayette arrived in Paris, and was 
greeted by the Minister of War with the King's commission as 
Field Marshal of the Armies of France,f though at the same 
age, ten years later, Napoleon, the most renowned of precocious 
warriors, had not yet earned the command of a brigade. The 
Queen, the ladies of the court, the officers of state, the young 
noblemen, the masters of science and of letters vied to court his 
favor and sound his praise, but his mind was bent on other 
things than rest, enjoyment or popularity. In 1778, the ministry 
of France, in announcing to Great Britain the treaty of com- 
merce with the United States, described them as " having be- 
come independent by their declaration of July 4, 1776." La- 
fayette had then said, " That is a principle of national sover- 
eignty which will one day be brought home to themselves." It 
now came home to them in his own person. Deaf to all voices 
but that of humanity, he felt himself the embodiment of revo- 
lutionary principles rolling back from the New World upon the 
Old, and he bent his energies to the control and direction of 
their forces, that they might neither be defeated of their effect 
nor perverted to mischievous ends. For the next fourteen 
years Lafayette was, on the whole, the most popular, perhaps 
the most influential man in France. % 

Never were opened to an aspiring youth such repeated op- 
portunities for power ; inviting him even to become master of 
a great nation and one of the world's rulers. But never was 
aspiring youth more devoid of personal ambition, or of self- 

* It is only these who accuse Lafayette of peculation and murder. For 
Marat's denunciations of him, see Taine, La Revolution, in, pp. 168, 169, 
172 ; and compare Esquiros, Histoire des Montagnards, 1, p. 377. 

f A. Bardoux, La Jeunesse de Lafayette, p. 140 ; de la Lozere, Lafay- 
ette en Am6rique et en France, p. 12. 

X Lamartine, Hist, des Girond., book 1, 22. 



ORA TION B Y MR. LEWIS. 3 5 

seeking in any form. His aspiration was to serve mankind, 
and he sought no reward for this service save the approval of 
his fellow-men. His letters and memoirs open his heart to ev- 
ery reader, and show that it throbbed with a mighty love, first 
for his family, and then for all who were oppressed or wronged, 
and that its own hunger was for the just esteem of his age and 
of posterity. Refusing to be the darling of the court, or the 
pampered favorite of the proud and powerful aristocracy into 
which he was born, he threw himself at once into the stupen- 
dous task of lifting and moulding the inorganic mass of hu- 
manity beneath them, until a public opinion should be created 
broad enough to be a worthy arbiter of fame. He was the 
first public man in Europe to prize and seek a truly national 
repute, founded on the knowledge and sober judgment of a 
whole people, in preference to the favor of power, the smiles 
of the great or the worship of a class or clique. His attitude 
of appeal to the conscience and judgment of mankind has been 
imputed to him as proof that vanity was a main-spring of his 
character, and that his ruling motive was to win the praises of 
men. But this slanderous reproach, which has found an echo 
even with some superficial writers of our own land, is refuted 
by the tenor of his life. 

Think what a vain young man would do on returning home 
to find himself the idol of Paris, the favorite of royalty, the 
toast of all assemblies, the hero of the French nobility ; and 
then recall what Lafayette did. In his very letter to Washing- 
ton announcing the peace, he proposes to him a plan by which 
he hoped they two might prepare the way for the gradual abo- 
lition of African slavery in America, * a plan involving large 
sacrifices on his own part, but so sage and so humane that it 
commanded Washington's approval, as no other ever did, al- 
though Lafayette's subsequent attempt to execute it was de- 
feated by the march of history forcing sterner work upon him. 
But he never lost his interest in the cause of emancipation, f 

* M6moires, 11, p. 58. 

f The last letter he ever wrote was that dated May 1, 1834, to Mr. Mur- 
ray, President of the Society for the Abolition of African Slavery, express- 
ing his assured confidence in the ultimate success of the cause : M^moires, 
vi, pp. 763-767. 



36 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

If the plan is wild, he wrote to the father at Mount Vernon, 
" I would rather be a fool in this way than wise in any other." 
Thousands have called him fool, for the illusion that the 
black race could be fitted for civil freedom, yet eighty years 
later our nation put forth its energies almost to the death in 
pursuit of the same illusion, — for the one who stood with God 
and liberty had now become a majority. 

But there was other than African slavery and he found it 
nearer home. From the revocation of the Edict of Nantes Pro- 
testants had been outlaws in France. They could hold no 
offices, perform no act of public worship, contract no lawful 
marriage, convey no property by will ; their children were bas- 
tards, and their estates open to the waste and ravage of the 
soldiery without defence. The King at his coronation had 
sworn to exterminate heretics. Lafayette uttered the first com- 
manding and effective protest in France against this form of 
oppression.* For years he found hardly an influential supporter. 
But he gave himself and France no rest until he led the no- 
tables of the kingdom to address the King in behalf of eman- 
cipation. The edict followed, rescuing a large class of the best 
citizens from civil death, and the day came at last when 
Lafayette could write to Washington : " You will readily under- 
stand how great was my pleasure last Sunday in introducing at 
a table of the Ministry of State, the first protestant clergyman 
who has been able to show his face at Versailles since 1685."! 

Even before this work was accomplished Lafayette had been 
overwhelmed with sympathy for the prisoners, thousands of 
whom were confined for long periods awaiting trial, or were at 
the will of the King's officers, many of them charged only with 
offences against cruel and impracticable revenue laws, or with 
independent political views. With all the energy of his mind he 
studied the system of penal law and the administration of jus- 
tice, and found them in numberless points at war with the prin- 
ciples of civil liberty. He denounced their defects, exposed 
their abuses, boldly faced the throne and its agencies in de- 

* Bardoux, La Jeunesse de Lafayette, p. 185. 
| M6moires, 11, 178-180. 



OR A TION BY MR. LE WIS. 3 7 

manding reforms. And while his success in this work was less 
rapid and less complete than in attacking religious persecutions, 
he yet identified with his name the great aim to reconcile individ- 
ual freedom with the self-protection of society, and contributed 
more than any other Frenchman of his time to form a public 
opinion in favor of humane and efficient criminal laws.* 

It was, perhaps, his zeal for those unjustly imprisoned which 
led him to study the financial system of the country, for one of 
his first demands from the notables was for the release from 
prison of all the multitudes confined for resistance to the in- 
famous salt tax. In any case he studied finance as he studied 
politics and law, with the zeal of an enthusiast and with no aim 
but the good of the whole people. 

In March, 1787, M. Nicolai, the chief of the bureau of ac- 
counts, explained to the notables certain so-called contracts, by 
which immense amounts of state property had been conveyed 
to favorites of the court. Lafayette vigorously denounced 
this policy and demanded reform. The president of the assem- 
bly, the King's brother, afterwards King Charles x, formally an- 
nounced at the next session, in the name of the King, that if 
charges so grave were made it must be in writing and under a 
responsible name. 

Before this threat M. Nicolai had no more to say; but 
Lafayette came forward with a resolution signed by himself, set- 
ting forth the scandalous abuses which were impoverishing the 
nation, demanding an inquiry into the waste of public estates 
by pretended contracts, which were really gifts to princes and 
favorites, and ending with these words : " The millions which 
are lavished are raised by taxation, and taxation can be justified 
by nothing but the real necessity of the state. All the mill- 
ions thus given over to waste or to avarice are the product of 
the sweat, the tears, perchance the blood of the people, and the 
number of lives made wretched to gather the sums so lightly 
lavished is terrible indeed, in view of the justice and mercy 
which we know to be the natural traits of his Majesty." f 

*Memoires, 11, 200, 201. 

fM6moires, 11, 164-166 ; Bardoux, Lajeunesse de Lafayette, p. 197-198. 



38 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Simple and obvious as these truths appear to those bred un- 
der our institutions, they fell like a thunderbolt on the servants 
of the old monarchy. Calonne, most expert of financial trick- 
sters, then at the head of the Treasury, had never heard such 
doctrine suggested, and to him it was treason. He went at 
once to the King and demanded that Lafayette be sent to the 
Bastile. Lafayette fortified himself with the proofs of his 
charges and came to face the government with them, only to 
learn that Calonne had been removed, and his system of wild 
extravagance and plausible make-shifts was abandoned. He 
then made use of his studies with a boldness unknown -in 
France before, pointing out the only way to meet the vast and 
growing deficit in the public treasury, by rigid economies, be- 
ginning with the King, his household and dependents ; by abol- 
ishing the royal preserves, the pensions and gifts bestowed for 
no merit or service ; the prisons of state, which, he said, the 
King would suppress, if he understood their uselessness and 
danger; and, in fine, by compelling every department of the 
ministry, except the diplomatic service, to render public and de- 
tailed accounts of its expenditure. " The resources of the peo- 
ple," he declared, " are not inexhaustible; they are already too 
far exhausted. In my own province farmers are on the point 
of forsaking their land, mechanics their shops, the most diligent 
workingmen, stripped of their possessions, must soon choose 
between beggary and emigration, and no increase of taxes can 
be made without reducing the masses to extreme misery and 
despair." He proceeded to denounce the lotteries as a fraud 
practiced by the government on its own people ; the taille, or 
system of customary subsidies levied by the Crown, as an un- 
equal, arbitrary and ruinous method of taxation ; and certain 
special taxes as intolerable burdens upon particular industries. 
In all this, he expressed only what to us are elementary principles 
of public economy, and it requires a careful study of the con- 
ditions under which he spoke to understand how far his politi- 
cal science was already in advance of his countrymen. 

But he ended his speech with words which proved to be 
deeds. Promising to present to the King a memoir in which 
the true methods of financial reform should be described in de- 



ORA TION B Y MR. LE WIS. 39 

tail, he suggested that with the change of administration and 
the adoption of these measures the national credit might be 
placed on more natural foundations, the rate of interest on the 
public debt reduced, the collection of taxes simplified, and the 
companies acting as farmers of the revenue abolished. This 
then, he added, was the time to call upon his Majesty to com- 
bine all these measures and influences, and " to consolidate for- 
ever their happy results by the convocation of a national as- 
sembly!" These words were the bugle-call of the revolution. 
" What! " cried the King's brother from the chair ; "you ask 
for the convocation of the States-general?" "Yes, and for 
something better than that," was the answer. " Shall I then 
say to the King that M. de Lafayette moves to call together the 
States-general ?" " Yes, sir," said Lafayette, while his fellow 
notables gazed in wonder at his temerity. * Brienne, the new 
finance minister, had until this time been in sympathy with 
Lafayette, adopting his sound and practical projects of reform. 
But he was startled by the word in which Lafayette now brought 
home to France the principal of national sovereignty, avowed 
by it in the treaty of 1778, and pointed him out to the. Council 
of State as the most dangerous man in France. The States-gen- 
eral, the gathering of the nobles, the clergy, and the third estate 
or commons, as a council of the kingdom, had been proposed 
before, and there was nothing to threaten the throne in the 
prospect of meeting a body so preponderantly loyal and aristo- 
cratic, so rooted in the traditional abuses of the old regime. 
But it was Lafayette's " something better than that;" it was the 
conception of a national assembly, to embody and exercise 
national sovereignty, and to reform society on the basis of free- 
dom and justice, that startled the Court as with the sense of a 
day of doom at hand. The Queen, in particular, about this 
time withdrew her friendship, and the hatred and prejudice 
which she thenceforth cherished towards Lafayette occasioned 
the errors which brought her to the scaffold, f 

* M£moires, 11, 177 ; Bardoux, La Jeunesse de Lafayette, p. 203. 

f Bardoux, La Jeunesse de Lafayette, p. 354 and often ; Lavall£e, His 
toire des Francais, iv, 76. 



40 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

The authoritative word once spoken, all minds gravitated 
towards it, as the idea of the hour ; and the National Assembly, 
the first expression of France as a nation of men with opinions 
and rights to assert, became inevitable. On May 26, 1788, 
Lafayette wrote to Washington, " I shall soon be in an assembly 
representing the French nation, or at Mount Vernon." Within 
a year he stood in the assembly as a leader of thought. There, 
after vigorously supporting Mirabeau in the demand that the 
King remove the troops with which he had environed the As- 
sembly, he proposed a Declaration of Rights, and presented his 
draft, which was the substance of that finally adopted by the 
convention, and long known in France as the decalogue of 
freemen. It was the negation, the positive reverse of the prac- 
tice of ages. The habits and traditions, institutions and laws, 
the tenure of property, the division of products, the adminis- 
tration of so-called justice, the social customs, schools, courts, 
police and prisons were organized for the few who had inherited 
the earth, against the many whose sole right was to serve and 
toil for masters. Government was an institution to protect the 
privileged classes and keep all others in subjection ; to uphold 
a sovereignty vested by Divine authority in an anointed King. 
But at Lafayette's instance it was now declared by the 
voice of the nation that men as members of a political com- 
munity are equal, that the sole end of government is the wel- 
fare of the governed, and that sovereignty is but the will of the 
whole people. * To these principles, learned by Lafayette from 
our Declaration of Independence, his life, his fortune and his 
sacred honor were dedicated. After thirteen years of consistent 
and intelligent devotion to them he now saw in France a public 
opinion created, a nation born, and his principles made its guide 
in framing its institutions and shaping its future. It is the fashion 
of historical critics to sneer at this declaration as a formula of 
abstract ideas and an impracticable philosophy, which has no 
place in political action. Lafayette, its author, and the chief 
creator of the public opinion which crystallized around it, is 
called a vain theorist, incapable of practical statesmanship. 

* M£moires, 11, 251-253. 



ORATION BY MR. LEWIS. 41 

But to those who seek the motives and springs of history in 
moral forces and find the life of mankind in the ideas which in- 
spire social action, such words as this declaration are the stern- 
est and most memorable of deeds, and it is precisely the ab- 
stractions it expressed which the French revolution was a crude 
and passionate effort to realize, and of which all that is hopeful 
in the modern world is a partial and progressive application. 

" For all the past of time reveals 
A bridal-dawn of thunder peals 
Wherever thought hath wedded fact." 

For the three years which followed the meeting of the Na- 
tional Assembly Lafayette's popularity was unbounded. It was 
a succession of stupendous events in bewildering rapidity ; par- 
ties and policies, leaders, ideas and passions were in desperate 
struggle for mastery, with daily varying fortunes. As the 
organization of society crumbled and the old safeguards of 
order disappeared, the mob of Paris grew steadily stronger and 
more conscious of its strength, and at the same time more 
fickle, passionate and reckless. Under the forms of municipal 
government, and led by the worst of demagogues, it usurped 
the functions of the timid and irresolute executive, and became 
a clog and a terror to every true representative of the nation. 
Lafayette's real greatness was then conspicuous. He was the 
popular embodiment of the new doctrines and the champion 
of liberty. As the foremost soldier of the Revolution he was 
called to command the National Guard. The idol of his troops 
and of his people, his fame eclipsed even that of Necker, the 
wisest and most liberal statesman, and of Mirabeau, the most 
splendid orator of France, while his power was far beyond that 
of the King and all his ministry. No such opportunity for per- 
sonal aggrandizement was ever thrust upon man as this, which 
came unsought to him, and it is not to be believed that he 
failed to see open before him the pathway to a throne. * 

But Lafayette never wavered in allegiance to his principles. 
The sovereignty of the nation, the welfare of all citizens, these 
were his supreme care. Their foes had been tyranny, oppres- 

* M. de Barante, Histoire de la Convention Nationale, book 1 ; see es- 
pecially pp. 57, 81, 124-126. 



42 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

sion, privilege, superstition, and against these he had warred man- 
fully and triumphantly. Now he recognized their new foes in 
license, disorder, party-passion and personal ambition, and he 
turned his weapons against these. He suppressed riotous mobs 
with vigor and with humane severity ; he protected the lives of 
the royal family, and would have saved them finally had the 
Queen's blind hatred of his liberal creed permitted her to trust 
him. Approached on all sides by proposals of alliance with 
strong leaders and factions seeking to control the state, he re- 
jected every plan but that of keeping public order till the na- 
tion, by its authorized representatives, should assert its own 
sovereignty. When foreign invasion was threatened he took 
the command of the chief army in the East, but learning that 
the fierce and unscrupulous passions of the factidns were 
threatening to turn Paris into a hell, and had terrorized into 
silence whatever of wisdom or statesmanship was left in the 
government, he returned to the capital alone, faced, before the 
mob and the cowed assembly, Robespierre and the other dema- 
gogues who were clamoring for his head, denounced them as 
the real traitors and the one great danger of the country, strove 
with all his energy to awaken and reorganize the public con- 
science against the rising chaos and the threatened terror ; and 
when he found that he stood alone, and there was no power in 
the nation to resist the growing frenzy, he resumed his com- 
mand, resolved at least to protect his people, until their senses 
should return, from the added woes of foreign conquest. But 
he had no sooner withdrawn from the capital than the " red 
fool-fury of the Seine " swept away the new constitution, usurp- 
ed the functions of national government and condemned him to 
die. They had taken pains, by numberless emissaries, to excite 
and divide the troops, so that, even among his devoted comrades 
on the field, Lafayette was unable to discover that united devo- 
tion to orderly freedom which alone would have justified him 
in employing the army as an instrument to restore the consti- 
tution. He was ready to enforce the laws at any cost, if as- 
sured of a nation's support ; but a civil war, with no distinct 
limit to its duration, and with no prospect but of military sway 
at the end, was that which his conscience could not face. Nor 



ORATION BY MR. LEWIS. 43 

would he be responsible for dividing the nation's forces in front 
of its foes. A less scrupulous or a more ambitious man would 
have decided otherwise. Had Alexander, Csesar or Napoleon 
been in his place on any day from May, 1789, to September, 
1892, he would have made himself personal master of France 
within a month. That Lafayette did not do this, did not at- 
tempt it, never used his strength and his opportunity for any 
end but the public good, nor sought, for himself, power, wealth 
or ease, but asked only the approval of the judgment and con- 
science of his fellows, is the ground for all the charges of weak- 
ness and of vanity which have been brought against him. * 

With this hasty glance at the years of Lafayette's most sus- 
tained public activity, we may surely dismiss such criticism, as 
founded upon a false and unworthy standard of greatness. Of 
his subsequent life our time permits no sketch, but I must refer 
to some of the momentous crises in the destinies of France, in 
which he took a leading, and more than once a decisive part. 
After five years of extreme suffering in an Austrian prison, 
where the foes of freedom felt that they were confining and 
crushing the Revolution itself, and after two years more of 
exile, he found Napoleon master of the country and preparing 
his empire. He feared Lafayette beyond all other men, and for 
years strove by influence, authority, bribes and threats to con- 
trol his course and to secure his support. Failing in this, he 
aimed at his life. But through all his changes of temper, 
Lafayette maintained the same attitude, rejecting every favor 
and every place in the government, openly and everywhere ad- 
vocating the cause of public order and of patriotic national de- 
fence, accepting Napoleon himself, as leader, on the sole condi- 
tion that he should respect the equal rights of citizens and 
subordinate himself to the laws ; but resisting and denouncing 
to the face of the tyrant every act of arbitrary power, and the 
policy of substituting his will for law. In the height of his 
supremacy Napoleon declared to his council that all France was 
now set right and ordered to his will, except that Lafayette was 



* Lamartine thinks he ought to have made himself dictator. Hist, des 
Girondins, book xvn ; compare Taine, Revolution, 11, p. 389. 



44 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

all ready to begin again, * a singular historical echo of the sit- 
uation sung by the old Roman poet, when Csesar found the 
whole world subdued, except the indomitable soul of Cato. 

But after Waterloo, when the army was broken, and the fall- 
ing emperor demanded a dictatorship, to exhaust the resources 
of France in a desperate resistance to the last, it was Lafayette 
who came forward to declare, in the name of the nation, that 
this was the end, and that the despot must choose between ab- 
dication and deposition. With the determination born of a ter- 
rible necessity, but with all the tender and respectful courtesy 
due to an unfortunate foe, he extorted the surrender of power, 
and then exerted himself to the utmost to protect the prostrate 
giant from the hands of foreign enemies. Again at the age of 
58, Lafayette may be said, as at the age of 33, to have held the 
heart and will of France in his hands. Had the nation been 
left to itself, his voice, for orderly liberty, would have been pre- 
ponderant. But victorious Europe imposed the old Bourbon 
monarchy on the land by its bayonets, and he could only ac- 
quiesce and hope. 

In spite of the strong personal esteem of Louis xvm for 
Lafayette, the royal government used all its power over the 
narrow electorate to keep him out of the Chamber of Deputies, 
and it was not until 18 19 that the march of liberal opinion, the 
reaction from the counter-revolution of Bourbonism, succeeded 
in placing him among the representatives of the nation. It 
was the revolutionist of 1789 in person that faced royalists now, 
and resisted all their schemes to entrench the dynasty and re- 
store the traditional abuses of the old regime. Perhaps no pub- 
lic man in any age has been the object of such bitter hatred as 
that with which the Bourbon party pursued Lafayette now. Fif- 
teen years before, Napoleon had told him that he had himself 
much experience of the malice and personal hostility of ene- 
mies, but he wondered what Lafayette had done to the royal 
powers of Europe to evoke their yet more passionate and furious 
hatred, f But this was intensified by his political course under 

* Bardoux, Les Dernieres Annies de Lafayette, p. 202. 
| Bardoux, Les Dernieres Annies de Lafayette, p. 171. 



ORATION BY MR. LEWIS. 45 

the restoration, and has filtered through the writings of preju- 
diced or superficial historians into the minds even of many open- 
minded readers, in the form of attacks upon his fair fame. 
Finding that the Bourbon monarchy was hopelessly committed 
to the subjugation of the minds of the nation, the destruction 
of popular rights, the narrowing and corruption of the suffrage, 
the degradation of the Assembly, the enslavement of the press 
and the denial of general education, Lafayette turned his efforts 
again to the formation of a public opinion which should resist 
it. Since open discussion was impossible, he formed secret 
societies throughout France for the comparison of views, the 
instruction, combination and organization of patriots. Standing 
at the centre of all these associations, and in communication 
with all, he became known to the Government as the head-con- 
spirator, and the question was ever before them whether to 
seize and destroy him. Ready for any fate, and apparently con- 
vinced that his death in such a cause would arouse the friends 
of freedom and hasten the republic, he defied accusation and 
inquiry, assumed every responsibility, and seemed to court the 
charge of treason. But the Government shrank, not daring to 
attack so great a foe, and contented itself with the arrest and 
death of some of his faithful friends, from whose lives he vainly 
tried to divert the stroke to his own. 

Again defeated in 1823, by a prodigious effort of the govern- 
ment * in a narrow and aristocratic electorate, he was shut out 
of Parliamentary life, and, after his great reception in America 
in the two following years, he concluded that his only contri- 
bution to the coming Republic must be by the fostering of 
moral forces. He returned in 1827 to the Chamber of Depu- 
ties, as the contest grew deeper and more open between the 
national spirit and the narrow and arbitrary clericalism of the 
new King, Charles x., and declared himself still, as from youth, 
devoted to the cause of liberty and ready to serve that cause 
with all his time and his blood. Not content with earnest labor 
in behalf of popular education as the first need of the French 



* Bardoux, Les Dernieres Annees de Lafayette, p. 297 ; de la Lozdre, 
Lafayette en Amerique et en France, pp. 146-149. 



46 LAFA YETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

people, he sought to enlighten and stimulate public opinion on 
sound principles of self-government. He was aided in this by 
a strong band of young orators and statesmen, and their suc- 
cess was such that, when, in March, 1830, the King defied the 
constitution and undertook to rule without the representatives 
of the nation, Lafayette, now at the age of 72, at once took the 
leadership of the popular movement, the supreme command of 
the armed powers of the nation ; with indomitable courage en- 
forced the will of the Assembly and suppressed disorder; 
exacted from the Duke of Orleans every guaranty which, in the 
judgment of the wisest statesmen in France, was necessary to 
ensure the exercise of national sovereignty, and then placed 
him, as citizen King of the French, upon a throne meant to be 
hereditary, surrounded by republican institutions. 

The choice of Lafayette at this time was decisive, and, for the 
next eighteen years, France remained at peace and in prosperity, 
growing rapidly in wealth, in political consciousness and in 
social organization. That the Citizen King was not true to his 
trust, that at last the power of royalist traditions around his 
throne brought him into open antagonism with the ripened force 
of liberal opinions, and he too had to flee, has strangely enough 
been made the occasion of reflections on the statesmanship of 
the greater than Warwick who made him King. But only 
prejudice can pervert the facts so greatly. The whole tenor of 
French history, through the two generations which have followed 
the Revolution of July, has been a conspicuous proof of his 
wisdom and foresight, at a crisis when an error might have 
plunged the nation into disorder. His ideal of the State was a 
Republic, but in France the social organization, the political 
habits of thought and associated action, the experience of party 
management and the free and regular discussion of political 
principles, with the spirit of acquiescence in the ultimate ex- 
pression by majorities of the nation's will, all this moral fabric, 
which is the essential basis of Republican institutions, was want- 
ing. Two generations more of widening intelligence and social 
education were needed before the people as a whole could be 
ready for self-government. No executive strong enough to 
secure public order was possible without the name and tradi- 



ORATION BY MR. LEWIS. 47 

tions of royalty, and these could be best retained by a descen- 
dant of the old line of Kings. Louis Philippe, of Orleans, was 
the only practicable choice. 

Lafayette saw, further, that such a monarchy, to be of lasting 
service, must be cut off from the support and influence of the 
reactionary party, and enlisted, by interest as well as by cove- 
nants, in the popular cause. These conditions were partly ful- 
filled in the person of the new ruler, and Lafayette strove to 
complete them. But his own dignity made it impossible to ac- 
cept any favor, title or office from the new government, and 
while yet the gratitude of the King was finding such expres- 
sions as no citizen had ever heard before, * he determined that 
it was his duty, and the highest contribution he could make to 
the future welfare of the country, to organize and strengthen a 
constitutional opposition to the King's administration, which 
should check and repress its natural tendencies to dynastic ag- 
grandizement, and should compel it to apply the vast revenues 
formerly wasted upon favorites and court luxury to the cause 
of universal primary education. Within two years, the revival 
of old laws, which he regarded as illiberal and immoral, laws 
against freedom of assemblies and restricting discussion through 
the press, the efforts of the ministry to resist wider suffrage and 
to take from the representatives of the people the initiative in 
legislation, and their failure to make free schools general, 
alienated him wholly from the monarchy, which he regarded as 
a temporary makeshift, to protect society from disorder while 
the nation should be educated for self-government. The hopes 
and predictions of his last hours are fulfilled in the new France, 
our sister republic, the home of civil liberty in the old world, 
whose free institutions, sheltering and fostering a prosperity 
hardly known elsewhere, are shaping for that nation, that has 
been the laboring and suffering Hercules of modern history, its 
golden age. And her own students are beginning to see that, 
as far as individuals can be recognized as forces in history, the 
existence of these institutions to-day, their rapid and magnifi- 

* Letters of Louis Philippe to Lafayette, M£moires, vi, 430, 436, 450, 
454-456, 483, 495-497, 500-503, and the proclamation by the King of Dec. 
27, 1830. 



48 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

cent development and their glorious promise, find one of their 
chief ultimate causes in the life, labors and teachings of 
Lafayette. 

Any attempt to review the character of our hero, in the light 
even of this meagre outline of his achievements, would detain 
you too long. I have spent many hours and days in dwelling 
on his beautiful and interesting career in his own beloved France 
as well as in this country, where he first drew the sword for 
freedom. In these researches my attention has been given 
more and more to the amazing injustice done to this great man 
in the current works which describe his times. The elevation 
of his character, the depth of his insight into social conditions, 
and the value of his services to mankind have found no ade- 
quate appreciation among historians, even those who have fully 
understood his disinterested and absorbing devotion to the 
cause of human liberty, and his unparalleled bravery. * It is be- 
cause historians in general measure greatness by false standards, 
and give notice and regard to the exploits of strength rather 
than to the real service of civilization. To such an extent does 
this tendency pervert and poison the fountains of thought 
among reading men that we can scarce look into a popular re- 
cord of the past without crying, in the words of the cynical 

poet: 

" Were things but only called by their right name, 
Caesar himself would be ashamed of fame." 

But I must content myself with giving you the assurance 
that by the standard of manhood, which every Christian nation 
and every sound social philosopher must recognize as true, 
Lafayette was one of the few greatest men of modern times, f 
His life had a completeness, as the expression of a large, fine 
mind, and of lofty and faultless character, such as hardly an- 
other life of his age attained. His efforts and plans for the wel- 
fare of humanity were among the largest and the ooldest ever 
conceived, and while their immediate and full accomplishment 



*See Taine, La ReVolutL n, n, 218 and often. Lamartine, Histoire 
des Girond. book xxiv, and often. 

t Compare Cloquet, Souvenirs sur la Vie privee du G£n6ral Lafayette, 
p. 342. 




F. Cowahd, Pueblo, Col., photo 



Engraving Co. 



The John m. Rogers Press, Wil. . Del. 



REV. WILLIAM L. BULL. 



Son of William M. Bull, son of Rev. Levi Bull, son of 
Col. Thomas Bull, a Revolutionary soldier. 



ORATION BY MR. LEWIS. 49 

was impossible, they were contributions of substantial value to 
the progress of liberal opinions and to the reform of institu- 
tions. Every accusation or sneer that has been directed against 
his fame resolves itself into a reproach for preferring right to 
force, and the service of mankind to self-aggrandizement. * 
An American by adoption, an ideal Frenchman, the highest 
type of his race and nation, in mind and character, he will be 
forever remembered as the hero of liberty on two continents, 
linking together the memories of her struggles and the hopes 
of her higher destiny in the old world and the new. 

"Such was he. His work is done. 
But while the races of mankind endure, 

Let his great example stand 

Colossal, seen of every land, 
And keep the soldier firm, the statesman pure ; 

Till in all lands, and through all human story, 

The path of duty be the way to glory." 



BENEDICTION 

BY REV. WILLIAM L. BULL. 

The God of Peace, who brought again from the dead our 
Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood 
of the everlasting covenant, make you — the people of these 
United States, the citizens of this State and the members of this 
community — perfect in every good work to do His will, working 
in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus 
Christ, the Prince of Peace, His only Son, our Lord ; to whom 
be glory forever and ever. Amen. 



Mr. Lewis has kindly placed at the disposal of the His- 
torical Society the following supplemental paper prepared by 
him since the delivery of the oration above : 



* To Napoleon Lafayette was " a political simpleton, the perpetual 
dupe of men and of facts," because he was unselfish ; Las Casas, Memo- 
rial de Sainte Helene, iv, p. 249 ; see also Taine, Le Regime Moderne, 1, 
p. 75 ; Esquiros, Histoire des Montagnards, 1, p. 329. 



50 LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY CHARLTON T. LEWIS. 

In the early years of the War of Independence, many sol- 
diers of fortune were attracted, by the hope of wealth or fame, to 
the service of the Colonies. Silas Deane, the agent of Congress 
in Paris, was lavish in promises of rank and pay to officers of 
experience; but the patriots, fighting here for their firesides 
and freedom, soon wearied of a system in which they should 
struggle in subordination and obscurity, while the high places 
of power and honor were given to foreign adventurers. Hence, 
when a youth in his twentieth year appeared in Philadelphia, 
July 25th, 1777, and handed to Chairman Lowell, of the Com- 
mittee of Foreign Affairs, a letter of introduction from Franklin, 
and a written promise from Deane of a commission as general, 
he was politely informed that his presence was unwelcome and 
his expectations preposterous. 

This youth was the Marquis de Lafayette, representative of 
one of the oldest and noblest families in France, educated for 
the Court, and bound by family tradition and marriage to the 
privileged classes and the old regime. But his childhood re- 
volted from the frivolity of the throngs about the throne ; and 
his whole heart embraced the social and political philosophy 
which inspires philanthropy, and demands for all men freedom 
and civil equality. About the end of August, 1776, the Duke 
of Gloucester, brother of George in, visited Metz ; the gover- 
nor, the Comte de Broglie, Louis xvi's intimate friend and ad- 
viser, entertained him at dinner, with the young Marquis, who 
was learning the duties of an officer in the garrison. The royal 
duke had just learned of the astounding declaration which his 
brother's foolish subjects had proclaimed at Philadelphia, and 
described it with ridicule and indignation. The boy was 
startled that the truth he cherished as a faith and a hope 
was already the political creed of a people, who were striv- 
ing to become a nation. He questioned the Duke on the 
Colonies, and the policy of England towards them, and before 
he left the table had determined to consecrate his life to their 
cause. 

The difficulties which he met and his persistence in over- 
coming them are known to all. The remonstrances and pray- 
ers of his kindred, the mockery of many friends, the command 
of his King, the extreme danger of capture by the British on 
the sea, failed to move him. Without prospect of repayment, 
he bought and fitted his ship and employed skillful officers as 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 51 

companions. But now distressing news came from America. 
It was reported that Howe's army would consist of more than 
thirty thousand men, well fed and well armed, who in the next 
campaign could easily destroy the half-starved band, less than 
three thousand in number, held together by Washington at 
Morristown. Deane and Lee themselves shrank from permit- 
ting a hopeless sacrifice. They released him from his promise 
and advised him to remain at home. Thanking Deane for his 
frankness, the young enthusiast answered, " Till now you have 
seen only my zeal ; now is the time to show confidence in the 
cause. It is in the hour of danger that I wish to share your 
fortunes." 

After the voyage of seven weeks and the ride of six hundred 
miles through the wilderness, he presented his credentials, and 
was repulsed. Congress, by its Committee, saw in him only 
one of Deane's mercenaries, who, seeking rank and preferment, 
would spread jealousy and insubordination, if commissioned in 
the army. Lafayette, convinced that his letters had not really 
been read, and that he would be welcomed if understood, sent 
to the President of Congress a letter, to be read in public : 
" After the sacrifices I have made, I have the right to demand 
two favors ; to serve at my own expense, and to enter the army 
as a volunteer." This was a new language from such a source. 
Patriots who had dreaded the accession of professional soldiers 
from Europe, almost as much as armed invaders, recognized in 
Lafayette a champion of freedom. On July 31st Congress 
voted to accept his services, and to commission him as Major 
General. 

A few days later Lafayette was presented to the General-in- 
chief, at a dinner attended by many public men. On leaving 
the table, Washington took him aside, expressed a high appre- 
ciation of his devotion to the cause, and a strong personal in- 
terest, and offered him a home at head- quarters. From that 
hour dates a friendship which, in the romantic interest of its 
origin and course, in its strength, sincerity and permanence, 
and in the importance of its consequences, has hardly a par- 
allel. Here was the veteran warrior whose native reserve had 
been intensified by hard experience into a seeming unapproach- 
able coldness, whose sagacity in reading men and caution in 
trusting them had impressed many as an incapacity for affection 
and confidence, whose lonely nature bore in silence the heaviest 
burdens of war and of state, but whose personal ascendency 
was the chief tie which bound the Colonies together, and whose 
genius and character were the hope of their national life. To 
him comes the boy aristocrat, the darling of luxury and privi- 



52 LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

lege, to whom life was ideal, and who, from a romantic impulse 
of philanthropy, throwing away rank and fortune sought only 
the glory of serving the cause of mankind. But when the 
bronzed hero, with his sternly sober and practical eye, looked 
upon the fair-faced knight-errant of abstract freedom, he loved 
him with a love which endured till death, which contributed 
much to the happiness and the public services of both, and in- 
fluenced the destinies of two great nations. 

We cannot now trace the story of this remarkable intimacy 
further than to note that the friendship of Washington saved 
Lafayette from jealousies and prejudices which threatened his 
usefulness, and might have driven him from the country. Not 
that envy and detraction were altogether hushed. Washington 
was himself the mark of constant calumny, and secret intrigue 
often sought to destroy his authority. The youth whom he 
loved and trusted above all his officers, and whom he delighted 
to call son, shared in the annoyance and suffering caused by 
these attacks, and was one of his most efficient aids in repell- 
ing them. But the judgment of posterity must uphold not 
merely his right to select for himself his intimate friend, but 
his wisdom in bestowing that proud title where it was most de- 
served and most useful. Envy lurked in dark corners, jealousy 
breathed in whispers, and only those who have looked behind 
the records of formal history into the secrets of the times know 
how much of rage and bitterness was stirred in little hearts by 
the generous love for Lafayette which the nation learned from 
Washington. 

A curious illustration of this, which has never been pub- 
lished, is found in a letter to Baron Steuben from Major William 
North of his staff, concerning the magnificent reception of 
Lafayette in Boston upon his return in 1784, after independence 
was secured. " My dear Baron," he writes, " what with a vil- 
lainous Easterly wind & the foolish parade which has been 
made with Don Quixotte, I have not had a moment's peace. 
He arrived here on Friday amidst the acclamations of foolish dis- 
banded officers and the town rabble — seated on a little horse 
(for the sake of Christ, I am sorry it was not an ass) he made 
his public entry." Such incidents have their value in showing 
that the world of those days was the world of men, and that 
even in this country, which he served and helped so much to 
save, the fame of Lafayette was not the monotonous and unre- 
lieved blaze of glory which it might seem to the reader of our 
popular histories. But the American people as a whole have 
learned to esteem him as did the patriotic masses then ; and 
the enthusiasm, which in our literature and in the hearts of our 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 53 

citizens honors him as one of the noblest founders and bene- 
factors of the republic, is a heritage of belief and feeling from 
the father of his country. 

This is not the place to recount his services to our cause. 
There is a singular inability in our historians to agree in ap- 
praising them. To some it seems that without Lafayette there 
would have been no alliance with France and no final achieve- 
ment of independence; while many writers treat his action and 
influence as but an incident, wholly subordinate to the great 
movement of events. My conviction is that, on each of three 
great occasions, his services were essential ; that is, without 
them, the success of the Colonies would have been seriously 
imperiled. The first was his loyal and resolute resistance to 
the successive conspiracies of 1778 in the army and in Con- 
gress, against the commander-in-chief. The second was in the 
admirable union of power and tact with which he determined 
and shaped the combined naval and military expedition of 
France, in aid of the United States, in 1780. The third was 
his management of the campaign of 1781 in Virginia, and his 
mediation, inducing the Comte de Grasse to postpone his voy- 
age southward, and to co-operate with the land forces against 
Yorktown ; two indispensable links in the chain of events 
which brought about the surrender of Cornwallis, the decisive 
success of the war. 

But it is needless now to defend these conclusions. It is not 
the amount of his contribution to the final victory, that con- 
cerns us now, but himself, his manhood, his mind and character. 
Here the American people, founding their judgment on his 
conduct during our war, are substantially at one. Had he died 
at the surrender of Yorktown in 1 781, he would be remem- 
bered as the ideal, almost the mythical hero of our legendary 
history; transcendent in fearlessness, in loyalty to friendship 
and to his convictions, and in his passionate love of freedom ; 
tender in all human sympathies, generous to friend and foe ; 
quick of eye and hand, prompt and sound of judgment, reso- 
lute of will, endowed with a precocity of military genius un- 
surpassed since Alexander of Macedon ; and stepping naturally 
into high places of authority as one born to command; too 
eager to challenge the enemies of his friends or of his prin- 
ciples, too reckless of personal danger, too hungry for the glory 
of beneficent achievement, yet subordinating even these magnifi- 
cent faults to honor and to duty. To what youth of twenty- 
four have such testimonials of exalted character been given as 
when Vergennes, the prime minister of Louis xvi, declared 
that his name was held in veneration by the whole people of 



54 LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

France, and when George Washington wrote him that the 
certainty of a high place in Lafayette's esteem would always 
be essential to his happiness ? 

But Lafayette's career was only begun. More than fifty 
years of active life were still before him, with a conspicuous 
part in the most momentous scenes of European history. 
Cherishing fondly the memories of his youth, which was ours, 
we now ask, how was this promise of greatness fulfilled ? If 
we consult the historians of France, we shall be bewildered by 
their answers. It seems impossible that the character and ac- 
tions ascribed to Lafayette by writers of repute, can belong to 
accounts of one man. Not merely do royalists denounce him 
as a traitor to his King and his country, a conspirator who sac- 
rificed conscience, friendship and honor for power ; not merely 
do the partisans of anarchy accuse him of corruption and mur- 
der; but authors who profess a desire to put aside the passions 
of party and to pronounce the judgments of posterity describe 
him, now as an impracticable fanatic, headstrong, ungovernable, 
unreasoning; now as vain, weak, irresolute, a weathercock in 
the wind of popular favor ; again as an amiable and benevolent 
gentleman, whose narrow intellect and lofty morality fit him 
for a respectable private career ; and finally as the honest dupe 
and tool of cunning rogues. True, there are other voices, those 
of Mignet, Thiers, Guizot, Quinet, which recognize in the 
Lafayette of three French revolutions the same champion of 
truth and of mankind whom we cherish as the friend of Wash- 
ington. But many historians and biographers who are widely 
read confuse and contradict this verdict ; and the outlines of 
the most romantic and interesting figure of the modern age are 
blurred on the tablet of the world's memory. 

But two or three conspicuous instances of the depreciation 
of Lafayette's fame can be cited here. Napoleon at St. Helena 
said that Lafayette was a political simpleton, whose easy good 
nature in public affairs made him the perpetual dupe of men 
and of facts. Admirers of the great brigand never weary of 
repeating this as a final estimate. Thomas Carlyle, to whom 

" Power is justified 
Though armed against St. Michael," 

whose standards of greatness are Cromwell and Frederick n, 
finds in Lafayette a mark for mockery and sneers. Looking at 
the world with a telescope of strangely colored glasses, he 
turns its small end towards the person and the deeds of " La- 
fayette, thin constitutional pedant; clear, thin, inflexible, as 
water turned into thin ice, whom no Queen's heart can love." 
This is extremely vague, and all of Carlyle's pages together mere- 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 55 

\y shew that he had for Lafayette an undefined dislike, as a man 
without force enough for his circumstances. Lamartine, how- 
ever, the brilliant and sentimental historian of the Girondists 
and of the Restoration, is neither reticent nor ambiguous on 
this subject. He while a youth had seen and known Lafayette, 
the venerable patriot and sage, and had written much in honor 
of his fidelity to principle, his love of freedom and of mankind, 
and of his services to France during the first revolution. But 
his great historical works bring two charges which his author- 
ity and eloquence have made hurtful to Lafayette's fame. The 
first is that his famous attack on the Jacobins in June 1792 was 
ill-judged and foredoomed to failure ; that it was dictated by a 
foolish confidence in moral forces at a time when there was no 
resource but the sword. " Lafayette," says Lamartine, " had 
done too much or not enough. In politics, to threaten without 
striking is to lay bare one's own weakness. Had he wished to 
strike an effective stroke, he might have marched a regiment 
on the Jacobin Club, closed it, advanced on the assembly, de- 
manded a dictatorship, and thus have crushed faction where he 
but irritated it/' 

The same writer's second attack impeaches even the moral 
consistency of the old patriot, who in 1821 organized a revolu- 
tionary opposition to the crown's encroachments on popular 
rights. " Now," he says, " Lafayette, burdened by years, and 
dreading lest death snatch from him, as from Moses, the sight 
of the promised land of freedom, proved false to his public 
calling as a tribune of law and order, false to his own character, 
to his oath as a deputy, to his habits of open opposition, and, 
at the peril of his life and his conscience, became the insti- 
gator, center and heart of a dark conspiracy." These accusa- 
tions have been re-echoed in many forms, and have apparently 
had some influence in qualifying even American opinion, at 
least suggesting a doubt whether early youth may not have 
been the period of Lafayette's worthiest achievement. They 
have been adopted and wantonly exaggerated by Sir Archibald 
Alison, whose History of Europe, by its comprehensiveness, 
fulness and convenient form has come into general use, in spite 
of gross inaccuracies and its bitter partisanship. Alison's hos- 
tility to Lafayette betrays him into contradictory charges, so 
that one can hardly say whether he regards him as a man of 
immense power, perverted to bad ends, or as a weak, dull and 
commonplace pretender to leadership ; but he finally attempts 
an elaborate summary of his character. Lafayette, he tells 

us, " was inordinately vain This was the secret of 

his democratic principles His thirst for popularity 



56 LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

never failed to bring him back to the feet of the popular idol, 
and involved him, in the latter years of his life, in many con- 
tradictory acts and discreditable connections Like 

all fanatics, whether in religion or politics, he was insensible to 
the lessons of experience and deaf to the voice of reason." 

Last of the philosophic historians of that epoch we may 
name Taine, in many respects the most instructive and influen- 
tial of all, who has often done justice to the heroism, the in- 
flexible principles and the noble generosity of Lafayette; and who 
yet, in describing his great struggle against anarchy in 1792, 
is led by the passion for epigram to the point of paradox ; and 
says that it was " by the short-sightedness of his intellect, by 
the inconsistency of his political theories, and by the elevation 
of his contradictory sentiments, that Lafayette was then the one 
man who precisely represented the best opinion of the Assem- 
bly and of France." 

Such attacks have influenced the popular estimate of La- 
fayette in his own country. Thus, his biographer, de la 
Lozere, writing in the latter days of the Second Empire, 
tells us that, on the whole, " The conduct of Lafayette 
has found more detractors than eulogists, because it always 
showed little knowledge of men, and of the necessary condi- 
tions of government How much of self sacrifice, 

generosity and patriotism were thrown away in him, for want 
of practical good sense to guide them," and even M. Bardoux, 
who has just devoted two volumes of absorbing interest to a 
careful review, intelligent and commonly appreciative, of La- 
fayette's entire career, concludes in a vein of depreciation not 
justified by his own narrative, that " his political life is open in 
many respects to criticism. He was not a great thinker, not 
an eminent orator, nor a statesman, and he had no knowledge 
of the human heart." Bardoux's special censure is directed, 
like that of Lamartine, against the share of Lafayette in the 
Carbonari conspiracies under the Restoration. Had he but 
confined himself to opposing, by legal methods, the ultra-royal- 
ists, he would have been, in this charming writer's view, faith- 
ful to his past; but he left the straight path through disdain of 
peril and through intrepidity, and this shows moral degeneracy 
in his old age ! 

Lafayette, in his life-time, was assailed with a bitterness 
hardly met by any other public man. When called upon by 
friends to protect his reputation, his answer was : " My inaction 
in this respect comes from my assured conviction that liberty 
will at last be established in the old world as in the new, and 
that then the history of our revolutions will set in its proper 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 57 

place every fact and every man." Now that his beloved native 
land and the country of his adoption are the two chief repre- 
sentatives of free government, the time has come to inquire 
whether his confidence was just. The sun of freedom has risen, 
as he predicted, on the Eastern World; and he believed that a 
breeze of truth from the west would now sweep away the clouds 
that in darker hours gathered to obscure his fame. It is above 
all from our country that his vindication, if he has been 
wronged, should come; for on August 15, 1824, New York 
city received him to the heart of America, with the noblest 
welcome which a free people ever gave to its benefactor, and 
by the voice of its Mayor formally assumed the guardianship 
of his great name, assuring him that in all time to come the 
love and devotion of its citizens should prove to the world the 
falsehood of the old proverb that republics are ungrateful. 

What, then, was the conduct of Lafayette, on the great oc- 
casions on which he has been accused of unworthy motives 
and acts ? How far are we justified in retaining our esteem for 
his character and his abilities ? If our idol is found to be clay, 
let us sadly confess it ; but if head, hands and heart prove to 
be of pure gold, let us yield nothing to the cynical spirit which 
refuses to believe in goodness and greatness,— that mockery 
which is "the fume of little hearts," — but rejoice that we may still 
cherish, as a precious legacy from the fathers of the republic, 
the same generous enthusiasm they felt for the hero of liberty 
on two continents. 

We may pass over the period of his service as commander- 
in-chief of the National Guard for the fifteen months following 
the fall of the Bastile ; for, while certain of his acts, and in par- 
ticular the resolute suppression of disorder by his troops on July 
17, 1 79 1, were afterwards denounced by the anarchists of the 
terror, no reputable historian has been heard to second the con- 
demnation. During this command, he was beyond question 
the most popular man in France. The King and all candid 
royalists recognized in him the preserver of the lives of the 
royal family ; the whole nation thanked him as the bulwark of 
public peace, and looked upon his power as the guaranty for 
the orderly establishment of the constitution, when, in October, 
1791, he surrendered his commission, with a dignity and unsel- 
fishness equal to that of which Washington had set the example 
eight years before, he addressed his troops in a farewell, which, 
in its political wisdom and moral elevation, seems a forecast of 
that with which Washington crowned his public career five 
years later. At this time the National Assembly, on his mo- 
tion, unanimously proclaimed universal amnesty for political 



58 LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

offences ; the National Guard tendered him a sword forged from 
the bolts of the Bastile, and even the municipality of Paris voted 
him a marble statue of Washington, and struck a medal in his 
honor. In short, had his life ended on that day, he would be 
remembered in all records of the history of France as the in- 
trepid, efficient and unselfish embodiment and guide of all that 
was noble and hopeful in the revolution. The only just re- 
proach which can be made against this part of his career is, 
that, in an excess of modesty, shrinking from the appearance 
of self-seeking, he laid down his sword too soon. But if he 
was blind not to see that it was about to be needed more than 
ever, this blindness was shared by the whole nation. They who 
sneer at his child-like credulity in accepting the enthusiastic 
welcome of the constitution, by King, Assembly and people, 
as the end of the revolution, are but denying to him a super- 
human power of prophecy. 

After a few weeks of retirement at home, Lafayette was again 
called to public service. The extreme royalists turned against 
him more fiercely than ever, under the influence of the Queen, 
who never forgave him for being the first to demand a national 
assembly in 1787, and whose hatred seemed intensified by the 
humiliation of owing her life to his chivalric protection on Oc- 
tober 6, 1789; under the influence of conspirators, too, who 
sought to destroy all public order, in the belief that anarchy 
offered a more promising way to despotism than did constitu- 
tional liberty. The anarchist mob saw in him the chief ob- 
stacle in the way of that universal levelling which means social 
disorganization and ruin ; and sought his destruction, under the 
lead of Marat, who already in July had avowed himself " ready, 
with two thousand men, to tear out the heart of that infernal 
Mottie, and his battalions of slaves." Hence, in November, 
when Paris was to elect a Mayor, and Lafayette was designated 
by public opinion, the two extreme parties united to defeat him. 
The money and intrigues of the Court deliberately aided the 
passions of the Jacobins to substitute the fierce and irresponsible 
Petion, and thus contributed greatly to the ascendency of the 
Mountain, which destroyed the royal family and disgraced and 
ruined the revolution. But when in December great armies 
were necessary for the national defence, Narbonne, the Minis- 
ter of War, demanded of the King that Lafayette be named as 
one of the three chief generals. The King refused, but the 
minister declared that if not appointed to-day, he would be 
forced on them by public opinion to-morrow, and the commis- 
sion was signed. 

At his head-quarters in Metz, Lafayette found himself re- 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 59 

sponsible for the safety of the frontier and the discipline of a 
large army, with no aid and little sympathy from his colleagues ; 
while in Paris the remnants of royal authority were crumbling, 
the legislative assembly was drifting helplessly, and an infuriat- 
ed populace, led by the demagogues of the Jacobin Club and 
its associated organizations, was rapidly assuming the powers 
of government. Emissaries of anarchy were threatening to 
demoralize his troops. He proclaimed his devotion to the 
constitution and his abhorrence of disorder ; Robespierre and 
the Mountain clamored for his head. Intelligence, education, 
wealth, were silenced by terror. The whole social fabric was 
falling into confusion. The nation must soon be a prey to foes 
without and within, unless some controlling authority should 
seize and direct its forces. There was no center for such 
authority, other than the patriot general and his devoted army. 
What was he to do ? 

His critics of after-times, looking back upon the scene, 
through the wild disorders and social desolation which followed, 
tell us that his course was plain; a strong man, equal to the 
emergency, would have marched to Paris, suppressed the clubs 
by force, compelled the Assembly to make him dictator, and 
imposed upon the nation its own salvation by his will. Instead 
of this, Lafayette wrote to the Assembly pointing out the dan- 
gers to the whole country from the control of its authorities 
by the mob of Paris ; denouncing its instigators and leaders in 
the Assembly itself and in the municipal government, and de- 
manding their punishment and the suppression of the clubs. 
The boldness of this letter amazed all parties. The majority 
of delegates believed it just and wise, but had not the courage 
to support its policy in the face of the angry Jacobins. The 
violent minority were afraid to meet it openly, but obtained a 
reference to a commission, on the pretext of doubting its 
authenticity, and used the time to fire the passions of the popu- 
lace against its author. Lafayette at once made safe the posi- 
tions of his army and came alone to Paris ; avowed his letter 
at the bar of the Assembly ; and appealed to the public spirit 
of the nation to sustain the constitution, and to suppress the 
anarchic forces which threatened its destruction. 

The appeal proved vain. The Assembly was cowed, the 
Court party, weak in itself, was divided by intrigues and treason. 
A review of the National Guard, which promised to afford a 
nucleus around which intelligent patriotism might gather, was 
defeated by Petion at the secret suggestion of the infatuated 
Queen herself. No single man of influence could be found to 
second the magnificent courage of the general, and summon 



6o LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

the community to the defense of its highest interests. Failing 
at the capital, Lafayette hastened to his army, convinced that 
only a great victory over the Austrians would arouse the na- 
tion ; and resolved to bring about a speedy battle. But in this 
he was thwarted, first by his colleague Luckner, and then by 
his enemies in the administration, who sent orders to some of 
his generals not to obey him. On August 8 the Assembly, by 
an overwhelming majority, refused to condemn Lafayette, a 
commission of inquiry having approved his conduct through- 
out ; but the fierce mob threatened, hunted and maltreated the 
members who had voted for acquittal. On the ioth they drove 
the King and his family from the palace to their only refuge in 
the legislative hall, terrorized the Assembly and forced decrees 
abolishing the constitution and the throne, and condemning 
Lafayette as a traitor; and soon seized all the machinery of 
government, and proceeded to wholesale murder. Lafayette 
believing that his duty to his country was done, and that he 
was now free to think of himself and his family, set his com- 
mand in perfect order, that the defense of his country might 
not suffer, and started for Mount Vernon, only to be seized, in 
defiance of international law, by the enemies of France, and 
confined for five years in Prussian and Austrian prisons. 

The facts are a complete answer, then, to the charge of blind 
fanaticism and Quixotic recklessness. In June, 1792, Lafayette 
expected, no doubt, to find in the new legislature much of the 
courage, statesmanship and patriotism which had characterized 
the National Convention until it adjourned nine months before. 
He expected to find the public opinion, which had for two 
years sustained his practical dictatorship in enforcing the laws 
and protecting life and order, still alive, and capable again of 
awaking to action. He expected to find the National Guard, 
which had through the same years honored him beyond meas- 
ure, and faithfully 'served the nation under him, still true to the 
cause of peace and law. He expected to find even in the 
Court, under the pressure of imminent danger, some sane re- 
gard to its own interests. If any of these reasonable expecta- 
tions had been realized, his enterprise would have had a chance 
of success. Had they all been fulfilled, his triumph and that 
of order and the constitution would have been signal, and per- 
haps permanent. It may be true that if the sole end in view 
were to crush his enemies, who were those of the nation and 
of humanity, the probability of success by violating his oath 
and usurping power was greater than by the sublime self-re- 
nunciation of his appeal to moral forces. But to impeach his 
wisdom, to insist that he was the dupe of abstractions and an 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 61 

unpractical fanatic, because he refused to commit a great crime 
in order to achieve power which might be used for good, is not 
only to falsify history, but is to degrade humanity. Let no 
American, at least, accept a standard of greatness which will 
exalt Cromwell and dishonor Washington. A careful review 
of Lafayette's struggle against the disorganizers of 1792, shows 
that his course was inspired as truly by the wisdom of sound 
statesmanship as by the fidelity of unselfish patriotism. 

The famous judgment of Napoleon, already cited, deserves 
notice only because it has been so often repeated. Lafayette 
was under personal obligations to the First Consul for insist- 
ing in 1797, in obedience to the directory, on the release by the 
Austrians of the prisoners of Olmutz. These obligations he 
always fully acknowledged, and in many instances he strove to 
repay them, even in over-measure. Napoleon sought first to 
exclude him from France, as a dangerous rival in popularity ; 
then to win his favor and place him in high office as his own 
supporter. Lafayette steadfastly refused to countenance usur- 
pation or tyranny; ever ready, if the sovereignty of the nation 
were secured, to honor the strong man at its head, but deter- 
mined never to accept a master other than the law. On the 
return from Elba, he was foremost in demanding guarantees for 
the constitution. After the defeat of Waterloo, he took the 
lead in declaring the permanence of the national legislature, 
in defeating the dictatorship asked by the emperor, and then in 
forcing his abdication. It is in these acts alone that Napoleon 
finds reason to call him a dupe and simpleton, because he would 
not sacrifice the nation to the usurper's ambition. Let those in- 
jurious words never be cited without the context, which shows 
that this monster of unscrupulous selfishness accounted as a 
simpleton any man who would hesitate to build him a throne 
on the ruins of a whole people. 

But the most cruel attack which has ever been made on the 
fair fame of Lafayette is that of Lamartine, his copyists and 
exaggerators, founded on the conspiracies in which he took 
part against the Bourbon Kings of the restoration. The facts 
are easy of access and cannot be questioned. When the minis- 
ters of Louis xviii, supported by the royalist party, had made 
plain their policy of encroaching on popular rights, abolishing 
the social gains of the revolution, and re-establishing the arbi- 
trary monarchy, and when all constitutional means of resistance 
were exhausted, Lafayette openly declared that the fundamental 
compact of political society is mutual in its obligations, and 
that a King who violates his duties to his people has no claim 
upon their allegiance. Far from being an abandonment of his 



62 LAFA YETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

principles and habits, this had been his conviction from boy- 
hood; and in 1792, during his fiercest conflict with the Jaco- 
bins, he had written that "all illegitimate power is oppression, 
and makes resistance a duty." To hold that the cause of free- 
dom must be promoted only under lawful forms, when all laws 
and governmental forms are but the instruments of oppression, 
is to consecrate tyranny forever. Lafayette therefore deter- 
mined that the time had come to organize the vast majority of 
the nation, who desired and needed self-government, so that 
they might in due time assume it. To this end the form of the 
so-called " Carbonari " associations of Italy was adopted, with 
modifications. The chief task undertaken was to enlighten 
public opinion, and to bring lovers of freedom into communi- 
cation, so as to prepare the way for a return to national self- 
government. Lafayette was the head and life of the movement, 
but took no steps save in conference with the foremost men of 
the liberal party in France. 

At that time the opponents of the Bourbons were of three 
classes or parties ; the imperialists, who believed that the pres- 
tige and glories of a Napoleon were necessary to awaken na- 
tional spirit and energy; the republicans, who wished in all 
branches of the government only representatives of the people ; 
and the constitutional monarchists, who thought that freedom 
and order would be best guaranteed in France by preserving, 
under the guidance of public opinion and a national assembly, 
the traditions and forms of a monarchical executive. Lafayette 
was the head of the last-named party, convinced that a popular 
and liberal monarchy would best educate the nation to free in- 
stitutions. But in order that all patriots might act in unison, 
and throw off the oppressors whom arms had imposed on France, 
they must agree as to the method of establishing a new govern- 
ment. They could not agree upon the particular form to be 
adopted ; but they were at one in the principle of national 
sovereignty. It was therefore determined by all these parties to 
act together in obtaining for the people the power to choose their 
own government ; and when the choice should be made to 
abide by it and support it. This agreement was solemnly sanc- 
tioned by the oath of every man admitted to their counsels. 

It is this oath, to secure freedom of choice and self-govern- 
ment for the whole people, and to acquiesce in this choice when 
made, that has been represented by Alison and others as a 
criminal conspiracy, in which the foremost statesmen, moralists 
and patriots of France bound themselves and their followers to 
the unscrupulous use of any means, however vile, even of pri- 
vate assassination and public anarchy, to achieve their personal 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 63 

advancement. Let the friends of freedom retort the charge, 
for the greatest crime that is revealed to us by the historian's 
pages is his attempt to assassinate the fame of Lafayette. 
Through the stormy years of the restoration, his conduct was 
in perfect consistency with the tenor of his earlier life. He 
resolutely pursued the great end of national freedom, at the 
hazard of fortune and of life, avowing his convictions and his 
purpose. When his agents or the friends of his cause were 
seized and in peril, he stepped forward to assume the responsi- 
bility of their deeds. But his generosity was unbounded alike 
to friends and foes, and he trifled with no interests, no life, but 
his own. He fearlessly defied the government, when brute 
force trampled on the people, and awaited its attack in the as- 
sured belief that the sacrifice he offered would awaken the 
storm which must destroy tyranny. The monarchy itself saw 
that he stood as the representative of the nation, and dared not 
accept his challenge. 

When the time was ripe, the Bourbon monarchy crumbled 
in a day. Lafayette once more, at the age of seventy-three, 
was the Commander of the National Guard, and held in his 
hands the destinies of France. All parties conferred together 
while France and Europe waited in suspense the result of the 
negotiations, many still hoping that a rude change of constitu- 
tion might be averted, and that the King and his advisers might 
give such guaranties of popular rights as would justify the 
maintenance of the dynasty. But the traditions of arbitrary 
power controlled the Court, and confidence was gone. On 
July 31st, Lafayette issued his proclamation; " reconciliation 
is impossible, and the royal family has ceased to reign." The 
nation and the world accepted his decision, and the alternative 
was placed before him, a republic, with himself as President, 
or the Constitutional Monarchy for which he had steadfastly 
contended, with a citizen King. He did not hesitate, but de- 
manded of Louis Philippe the pledge of faithful devotion to na- 
tional self-government, and placed the crown on his head. The 
choice of sovereign was the only one then possible. It proved 
less perfect than the Warwick of liberty desired and hoped, and 
he lived to see the throne again surrounded by intrigue, and 
the misguided King engaged in resisting instead of fostering 
the spirit of freedom. But on the whole the next eighteen 
years of constitutional peace educated the nation to a higher 
capacity for self-government, lifted them to a far greater pros- 
perity than they had ever known ; and vindicated the states- 
manship of his noble self-denial. To Lafayette, more than to 
any other, belongs the title of Father of Liberty in France. 



64 LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

The character and life of Lafayette, as presented in the re- 
cords of history, present a problem of the highest interest to us 
as Americans, and one on which the whole truth has hardly been 
told. Splendid and unreserved eulogies of his uniform and 
exalted purity, bravery, firmness, generosity, fidelity and unsel- 
fish devotion to the welfare of humanity, are read in the pages 
of such historians as Mignet, Thiers, Guizot, and many of less 
name. But not one, even of these, has given an estimate of 
Lafayette's learning and judgment, of his native powers of 
mind, his genius as a thinker, his share in the intellectual move- 
ment of the age. Yet this is a side of his great nature without 
which our conception of his manhood is but a torso and our 
attempts to represent his greatness a mutilation. The evidences 
which illustrate it are scattered far and wide in the annals of 
the time. A critical review of them would demand volumes 
instead of sentences. But it is proper to notice some of the 
surprises which meet an inquirer into his capacity and efficiency 
as a leader of thought. 

When Lafayette, not yet twenty years of age, dedicated his 
sword to freedom, his precocity showed itself in the tenacity of 
his convictions, and in the weight awarded to his views and 
purposes by men of wise experience, as well as in his military 
skill and trustworthiness. His expedition to America was re- 
garded by the public as a boyish freak, but none of the sober 
veterans with whom he counselled failed to recognize his se- 
rious purpose, his deliberate survey of the risk, and his manly 
responsibility. His philosophy of life and society, gathered 
first in the school of Rousseau, was yet crude ; but he cher- 
ished it as a religion, for whose truth he must work and suffer, 
live and die. This earnestness fired his mind, intensified his 
power of study and reflection as well as his human sympathies, 
and rapidly formed his permanent beliefs upon the political and 
social problems before him. He soon defined to himself with 
scientific precision the nature and limits of the liberty he loved, 
so that when he returned to France, it was as the representa- 
tive of a matured system of political thought. No longer the 
gallant and impetuous knight-errant of an idea which was 
mostly an impulse, but the sober student of organized society 
and its needs, he applied himself to the practical business of 
improving the condition of his fellow-men. 

His first effort as a reformer was directed against African 
slavery. The earliest news of the peace which established our 
independence came to America in a letter from Lafayette to 
Washington; and the same letter contains a plan by which he 
hoped that they two might open the way for gradual emanci- 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 65 

pation, by purchasing a plantation in a tropical colony at La- 
fayette's expense, and employing a body of freedmen. The 
example, he believed, would attract wide attention, the experi- 
ment would prove the method practicable ; and the effort, per- 
haps as a public policy, might become general. Washington 
cordially approved the project ; it was undertaken, at great cost 
and sacrifice, by Lafayette, but was interrupted by the progress 
of revolution. But his mind and heart were always in the 
cause ; and, by a noticeable coincidence, the last words he ever 
wrote, a letter of May 1, 1834, to the President of the British 
Anti-Slavery Society, expressed his glowing desire and hope 
for universal emancipation. His doctrine, in which he never 
faltered, was that of Washington and Lincoln; that masters 
and slaves were alike entitled to respect and sympathy, but that 
the system must be abolished for the sake of both and of civi- 
lization. 

He next turned to the oppressed Protestants of France. For 
a century the law had tolerated no dissent from the church. 
Louis xvi had taken the coronation oath to exterminate here- 
tics. Protestants had no legal protection for property, no civil 
life ; their marriages were void, their children bastards, their 
testaments invalid. Lafayette denounced the law and demanded 
reform, but for a long time alone. The Court, the clergy, the 
nobility, public opinion, ridiculed him as an unpractical enthu- 
siast. But at length his appeals created a public sentiment 
which enforced them, the Assembly of notables advised and 
the King decreed the emancipation of the proscribed sects, and 
Lafayette in person led to the table of the King's ministers the 
first Protestant clergyman who had shown his face in Versailles 
since the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. 

Lafayette was not only the first public man in France to 
call for a representative national assembly, as the one hope of 
the government and people, but he was the first to guide the 
assembly into the true work of practical reform. His masterly 
review of the expenses of the monarchy and its possible 
economies, and his exposition of the principles of public ex- 
penditure, were a revelation, not of boldness only, but of wis- 
dom, to the statesmen of the time. His attention was drawn 
to the many imprisonments for offences against the revenue, and 
on investigation, he found the criminal law and its administra- 
tion alike inefficient, arbitrary and oppressive. The long de- 
lays of justice and the indefinite detention of the accused be- 
fore trial were crying evils, demanding radical legislation. His 
exposures of these wrongs led to the formation of a public 



66 LAFAYETTE AND THE HISTORIANS. 

opinion which slowly but vastly improved the criminal juris- 
prudence of France. 

Lafayette's insight into the defects of government and so- 
ciety, with his native intolerance of wrong, made him the advo- 
cate of all true reform ; and his enemies and opponents were 
always ready to charge him with idealism, extravagant hopes, 
quixotic enterprises, and an absurd faith in human nature. 
Thus he became the representative champion of a free press, 
of trial by jury, of the abolition of the hereditary peerage, of a 
permanent senate, of universal education at the cost of the 
state, of the mitigation of penal laws, especially for political 
offences, of the extension of the suffrage to all who have a 
stake in society, and of the abolition of capital punishment. 
These ideas, novelties when he embraced them, and decried as 
the creed of a fanatic, were held by him with unfaltering faith 
in their ultimate triumph. He lived to see many of them em- 
bodied in the permanent legislation of his country and cherished 
by the free minds of the world. The thoughts which, in his 
youth, were fresh revelations in philosophy and literature, 
which had never reached the world of practical statesmanship 
and social life, were grasped by his mind with the energy of an 
apostle and a martyr, and the struggle of his whole life was to 
translate them into action. The intellectual vigor which sees 
abstract truth as a reality, and is inspired by it to defy and 
crush the falsehoods of tradition and the shams of custom ; 
which at the same time holds fast the conditions of real life 
and the safeguards of social order; and which thus gathers 
from the trees of the past fruit for the nourishment of humanity, 
not fuel for its sacrifice — this is genius, of the rarest and most 
precious order, and this was the mental endowment of La- 
fayette. 

Permit me in conclusion to express the personal judgment 
forced on me, in spite of many historians, by a protracted study 
of the evidence of which I have given you but brief extracts 
and specimens. Of all men who have greatly struggled against 
wrong, who have consecrated noble faculties of mind and heart 
and vast resources of passion and will to the service of man- 
kind, I find in Lafayette the one who is least adequately de- 
picted on the pages of history, whose fame falls most short of 
his merits. His career of duty and honor, of self-sacrifice and 
warfare with oppression, was glorious not only in effort but in 
achievement, and few lives taken in all their results could have 
been so ill-spared from the chain of causes which have pro- 
duced what is best in the modern world. If ever a man's " fail- 
ings leaned to virtue's side," it was the excess in his enthusiasm 



SUPPLEMENTAL PAPER BY MR. LEWIS. 67 

for freedom, in his forgetfulness of selfish prudence, in his 
generous trustfulness towards others, and in his honorable 
aspirations for their approval. But his insight into the needs 
of his time and country, his foresight of the real progress of 
society and of the means of promoting it, were on the whole 
unequalled among his contemporaries. First the pupil of 
Washington, then his adviser and trusted friend, the represen- 
tative of all that was wise and hopeful in three successive 
revolutions of France, in advanced life the revered and sage 
counsellor of Clarkson and Wilberforce in philanthropy, of 
Bentham in jurisprudence, of Jefferson and Fox in practical 
statesmanship, of Capo d'Istria, Boyer and Bolivar in the 
organization of free states and the shaping of constitutions, he 
proved equal to every position and every demand. To natural 
endowments worthy to rank with those of great statesmen and 
warriors, he joined a moral elevation which held him above sel- 
fish struggles for power, and entitles him to a nobler laurel of 
fame than is worn by the brows of Pitt or Napoleon. 

He was the first public man in the world to recognize to the 
full the greatness of Washington. In 1784 he wrote: " Never 
before had all that is great and good been united in one man ; 
never had lived the man on whom soldier, statesman, patriot and 
philosopher alike must look with equal admiration." The final 
judgment of history, I am confident, will adopt this eulogy, 
and will place by his side Lafayette, as second to him and to 
none beside him, in heroic worth and merited fame. 

APPENDIX "A." 

LETTERS FROM RELATIVES OF GENERAL LAFAYETTE. 

Edwin A. Barber, Esqr., New York, August 8, 1894. 

West Chester, Pa. 
Dear Sir : 
Your note inviting me to be present at the erecting of a stone intend- 
ed to mark the spot where my great-grandfather was wounded at the 
Brandywine, was forwarded to me here and I beg of you to excuse the 
delay in my reply. 

It was very gratifying to me to receive this invitation from the Ches- 
ter County Historical Society and it gives me great pleasure to accept it. 
I hope you will be so kind as to let me know, a few days in advance, 
at the enclosed address, [806 18th street, Washington, D. C.,] the exact 
place where the exercises are to be held on September nth, and also the 
hour at which they are to begin. 

I am, dear sir, very truly yours, 

Chambrun. 
[Absence from the United States at the date of the exercises of dedi- 
cation prevented the attendance of this distinguished guest.] 



68 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

La Grange, 
Coupalay, 

Seine-et-Marne, 

August 20th, '95. 
James Monaghan, Esq., 

West Chester, Pa. 
Dear Sir : 
I am greatly touched at your kind thought of me, and the cordial in- 
vitation of the Chester County Historical Society is a most tempting one 
to accept. Unfortunately circumstances over which I have no control 
will oblige me to decline ; and most unwillingly I find myself compelled 
to forego the pleasure of assisting at the memorial shaft to the memory 
of my great-grandfather, the General de Lafayette. 

Believe me, dear sir, yours truly, 

Lasteyrie. 

Toul, 17 Aout, 1895. 
M. James Monaghan, 

West Chester, Pa. 
Cher Monsieur, 
C'est avecun vif regret que je me vois oblig6 de d6cliner l'honorable 
invitation que la Soci^te" Historique du Comte de Chester, en Pennsyl- 
vanie, veut bien m'adresser. 

J'aurais 6t6 heureux d'assister a l'erection du monument comm£m- 
oratif de la bataille de Brandywine ; mais il nv est absolument impossible 
de quitter la France. Je vous prie de vouloir bien transmettre a Mes- 
sieurs les Membres de la Society, avec tous mes remerciements, l'ex- 
pression de mes sentiments les plus distingu£s. 

Sahune Lafayette. 

[Translation : It is with great regret that I find myself obliged to de- 
cline the honorable invitation which the Historical Society of Chester 
County, Pennsylvania, has been good enough to send me. 

I should have been happy to assist in the erection of a monu- 
ment commemorative of the battle of Brandywine ; but it is absolutely 
impossible for me to leave France. I pray you to kindly transmit to the 
gentlemen members of the society, with many thanks, the expression 
of my most hearty regards.] 

APPENDIX "B." 
Evidence as to place where Lafayette was Wounded. 
Lafayette, in his Memoirs, p. 23 : " M. de Lafayette, as volunteer, had 
always accompanied the General [Washington]. The left wing [at 
Chadd's Ford] remaining in a state of tranquility and the right appear- 
ing fated to receive all the heavy blows, he obtained permission to join 
Sullivan. At his arrival, which seemed to inspirit the troops, he found 
that, the enemy having crossed the ford [ Jefferis], the corps of Sullivan 
had scarcely had time to form itself on a line in front of the thinly wooded 



APPENDIX "B"— WOUNDING OF LAFAYETTE. 69 

forest. A few moments after, Lord Cornwallis formed in the finest order, 
advancing across the plain, his first line opened a brisk fire of musketry 
and artillery ; the Americans returned the fire and did much injury to 
the enemy ; but their right and left wings having given way, the generals 
and several officers joined the central division in which were M. de La- 
fayette and Stirling, and of which 800 men were commanded in a most 
brilliant manner by Conway, an Irishman, in the service of France. By 
separating that division from its two wings, and advancing through an 
open plain, in which they lost many men, the enemy united all his fire 
upon the center ; the confusion became extreme ; and it was whilst M. 
de Lafayette was rallying the troops that a ball passed through his leg — 
at that moment all those remaining on the field gave way. M. de La- 
fayette was indebted to Gimat, his aide-de-camp, for the happiness of 
getting on his horse. General Washington arrived from a distance with 
fresh troops ; M. de Lafayette was preparing to join him when loss of 
blood obliged him to stop and have his wound bandaged ; he was even 
very near being taken. Fugitives, cannon and baggage now crowded 
without order into the road leading to Chester. The General employed 
the remaining daylight in checking the enemy ; some regiments behaved 
extremely well, but the disorder was complete. During that time the 
ford of Chadd was forced, the cannon taken and the Chester road became 
the common retreat of the whole army. In the midst of that dreadful 
confusion and during the darkness of the night, it was impossible to re- 
cover ; but at Chester, twelve miles from the field of battle, they met 
with a bridge which it was necessary to cross ; M. de Lafayette occupied 
himself in arresting the fugitives ; some degree of order was re-estab- 
lished ; the generals and the commander-in-chief arrived ; and he had 
leisure to have his wound dressed." 

Chastellux , * in his Travels in North America, p. 235, after a visit 
to the battlefield with Lafayette in 1780 [for an account of which see Ap- 
pendix C] : " Another officer was sent who reported that Cornwallis 
had changed his direction, and that he was rapidly advancing by the 
road leading to Jefferries Ford, two miles higher than Birmingham 
Church. General Sullivan was immediately ordered to march thither with 
all the troops of the right. Unfortunately the roads were badly recon- 
noitred, and not at all open ; with great difficulty General Sullivan got 
through the woods, and when he came out of them to gain a small emi- 
nence near Birmingham Church, he found the English columns mounting 
it on the opposite side. It was no easy matter to range into order of 
battle such troops as his ; he had neither time to choose his position nor 
to form his line. The English gained the eminence, drove the Americans 
back on the woods, to the edge of which they pursued them, and they 
were totally dispersed. 

" During the short time which this action lasted, Lord Stirling and 
General Conway had time to form their brigade on pretty advantageous 

*For brief sketch of Chastellux, see Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, p. 513. 



70 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

ground ; it was a gentle rising, partly covered by the woods which 
bounded it ; their left was protected by the same woods, and on the right 
of this rising ground, but a little in the rear, was the Virginia line, who 
were ranged in line of battle, on a high spot of ground, and on the edge 
of an open wood. The left column of the enemy, who had not been en- 
gaged with Sullivan, formed rapidly, and marched against these troops 
with as much order as vivacity and courage. The Americans made a 
very smart fire, which did not check the English, and it was not till the 
latter were within twenty yards of them, that they gave way and threw 
themselves into the woods. Lord Stirling, M. de Lafayette and General 
Sullivan himself, after the defeat of his division, fought with this body of 
troops, whose post was the most important, and made the longest resist- 
ance. It was here that M. de Lafayette was wounded in his left leg, in 
rallying the troops who were beginning to stagger. On the right, the 
Virginia line made some resistance ; but the English had gained a height, 
from whence their artillery took them en echarpe : this fire must have 
been very severe, for most of the trees bear the mark of bullets or can- 
non shot. The Virginians in their turn gave way, and the right was then 
entirely uncovered. .... 

" Such is the idea I have formed of the battle of Brandy wine from what 
I have heard from General Washington himself, from M. de Lafayette, 
Messieurs de Gimat, and -de Mauduit, and from the Generals Wayne 
and Sullivan. I must observe however that there is a disagreement 
in some particulars. ... I was obliged therefore to draw my con- 
clusions from different narratives, and to follow none of them implicitly." 
Joseph J. Lewis, in his History of Chester County, published in the 
Village Record of 1824, and republished in the Record in 1894 : " Here [at 
Sullivan's position on the right ] the Americans first gave way, leaving 
the flank unprotected and exposed to a very galling fire. Their flight 
afforded the enemy great advantage over the remaining divisions, which 
continued to break from the right until the whole line was completely 
routed. A few regiments afterwards rallied and renewed the battle but 
being briskly charged again gave way and retreated in great disorder. 
At this stand for a few minutes was some very hard fighting. Washing- 
ton himself was present with [?] Marquis de Lafayette, and it was here 
the Marquis received the wound in his leg." Mr. Lewis then proceeds 
to narrate the movement of Gen. Greene's forces and their stand " at a 
narrow defile, strongly secured on its right and left by thick and heavy 
woods." 

George Bancroft, in his History of the United States, after passing a 
day on the battlefield, page 397.: " Their flight [ of Sullivan's troops j ex- 
posed the flank of Stirling and Stephen. These two divisions, only half 
as numerous as their assailants, in spite of the ' unofficer-like behavior' 
of Stephen [ Washington's charge against Stephen before the court- 
martial ], fought in good earnest, using their artillery from a distance, 
their muskets only when the enemy was within forty paces ; but, under 
the vigorous charge of the Hessians and British grenadiers, who vied 



APPENDIX "B "— WO UNDING OF LAFA YETTE. 7 1 

with each other in fury as they ran forward with the bayonet, the Ameri- 
can line continued to break from the right. Conway's brigade resisted 
well ; Sullivan, so worthless as a general, * showed personal courage ; La- 
fayette, present as a volunteer, braved danger, and, though wounded in 
the leg while rallying the fugitives, bound up the wound as he could, and 
kept the field till the close of the battle. The third Virginia regiment, 
commanded by Marshall and stationed apart in a wood, held out until 
both its flanks were turned and half its officers and one-third its men 
were killed or wounded. 

" Howe seemed likely to get in the rear of the Continental army and 
complete its overthrow. But at the sound of the cannon on the right, 
taking with him Greene and the two brigades of Muhlenberg and 
Weedon, which lay nearest the scene of action, Washington marched 
swiftly to the support of the wing that had been confided to Sullivan, and 
in about forty minutes met them in full retreat. His approach checked 
the pursuit. Cautiously making a new disposition of his forces Howe 
again pushed forward, driving the party with Greene till they came upon 
a strong position, chosen by Washington, which completely commanded 
the road, and which a regiment of Virginians under Stevens and another 
of Pennsylvanians under Stewart were able to hold till night-fall. . . 

" The battle seemed to be over. Night was falling, when two battal- 
ions of British grenadiers under Meadow and Moncton received orders 
to occupy a cluster of houses on a hill beyond Dilworthtown. They 
marched carelessly, the officers with sheathed swords. At fifty paces 
from the first house they were surprised by a deadly fire from 
Maxwell's corps, which lay in ambush to cover the American retreat. 
The British officers sent for help, but were nearly routed before General 
Agnew could bring up a sufficient force to their relief. The Americans 
then withdrew and darkness ended the contest." 

Village Record, Aug. 3, 1825, Charles Miner, editor: "At Dilworth- 
town a large concourse of people had gathered ; here the procession 
halted ten minutes, and then turning off to the left proceeded to the main 
battle ground. 'Show me,' said the General, 'where is the meeting 
house.' When they came fully in view and it was pointed out to him, 
'Oh,' said he, 'it is here,' and immediately rose on his feet and ad- 
dressing himself in French to his son and companions, spoke animatedly 
for some time, pointing out the different positions of the two armies. 
Everything was now familiar to him. The position of Colonel McClel- 
lan was near him when wounded ; the spot the General pointed out in 
the cornfield of Jacob Bennett [now Mrs. Biddle's lawn], a little east and 
south of where the road from the meeting house comes in at right angles 
with the east and west road." 

American Republican, Aug. 3, 1825, account prepared by a member of 
the committee of arrangements : "On the high grounds immediately 
south and south-east of the meeting house, the General recognized the 

* The clause "so worthless as a general " was omitted from the last edition. 



72 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

position where the Americans were drawn up to oppose the progress of 
that division of the enemy which had crossed the Brandywine by the cir- 
cuitous route of Jefferis' Ford ; and he designated those grounds as the 
place where he received the wound which forever endeared him to the 
American people." 

George Morris Philips, principal of the West Chester State Normal 
School, and president of the Chester County Historical Society, states that, 
some years ago, when he was attending a meeting at Birmingham meet- 
ing house he heard an old Friend ( whose name he did not know) state 
that he saw Lafayette on his visit here in 1825 point out the rising ground 
south of and in sight of the meeting house as the place where he was 
wounded. 

J. Smith Futhey, in Futhey & Cope's History of Chester County (1881) : 
"The place where Lafayette was wounded, as pointed out by himself in 
1825, was on the high ground a little north-west of the frame public school 
house [ not now standing], and south-east of the present residence of 
John Bennett. It occurred while Washington in person and the worthy 
young Frenchman were endeavoring to rally some retreating regiments. 
Some hard fighting took place at this point." 

Benson J. Lossing, in his Field Book of the Revolution, after visiting 
the ground, p. 386 (1848) : " About half-way between the meeting house 
and Dilworth, and one hundred rods westward of the road, in a field 
belonging to Mr. Bennett, is the place where Lafayette was wounded." 

Howard M. Jenkins, in Lippincott's Magazine for Sept. 11, 1877, vol. 
20, p. 338 : " It is said that Greene opened his lines, received the fugitives 
from the front, and re-formed. Possibly this took place at the second 
position. It is certain that here the British advance was sharply checked, 
and the Americans stubbornly held their ground until late in the after- 
noon. It was at this turn in the battle that Lafayette was wounded and 
not in the first encounter, as the current historical narrative would give 
us to understand. A survey of the map ascertains very precisely the 
place where he was shot, according to abundant testimony, and this is 
more than a mile distant from Sullivan's lines. It is very unlikely that 
Lafayette was in the first encounter, beyond the meeting house. He 
probably arrived on the field with Washington, or he may possibly have 
accompanied Greene. The place where he was wounded is a field about 
half-way from the meeting house to Dilworth, southwest of the road and 
about a hundred rods away. Trustworthy accounts say he was with 
Washington at the time, both engaged in rallying the troops ; and this is 
quite likely ; the place is only a little distance westward from the point 
to which Joseph Brown guided the general. In July, 1825, when La- 
fayette visited the ground, he drove up from Wilmington in a carriage 
with the Messrs. Dupont, whom he had been visiting. Great crowds 
accompanied him over the historic field, and as he drove along the road 
near the place already described, the carriage was stopped and the gal- 
lant old gentleman rose to his feet to point out the position in which he 



APPENDIX "B"— WOUNDING OF LAFAYETTE. 73 

sustained his wound. 'It is,' he said, 'somewhere on yonder slope. 
The exact spot I cannot now tell.' " 

Gilbert Cope, Secretary of the Chester County Historical Society, who 
read the Historical Address above, has prepared the following additional 
notes : 

Nathan Y. Jester, of Dilworthtown, then aged about 17, was present 
when Lafayette visited the battlefield in 1825, and was near the carriage 
of the distinguished visitor when the latter pointed out the spot where he 
was wounded. To a committee of the Chester County Historical Society 
he indicated the spot where the carriage stood on that occasion, and near 
there a temporary marker was erected by the side of the road from Bir- 
mingham meeting house to Dilworthtown, perhaps fifty rods beyond 
Sandy Hollow. It was proposed to place the memorial shaft at that 
point, and the inscription was framed to suit that location. It is however 
equally adapted to its present location. 

Ziba Darlington, late of West Chester, deceased, pointed out to the 
writer, some thirty years ago, the identical spot indicated by Nathan 
Y. Jester. 

Chalkley Harvey, now deceased, late of Chads' Ford, writing to the 
American Republican, July 3, 1872, says : " I distinctly recollect seeing 
Lafayette, whilst seated in a carriage, on the occasion referred to, in 
company with his son, and I think, Messrs. V. and E. I. Dupont, point 
out the ground upon which he was wounded. I, with two young rela- 
tives, A. Harvey and the late Elijah Hollingsworth, of Wilmington, Dela- 
ware, and Abram Huey, now of Birmingham, were perched on a fence 
by the roadside, under a clump of young chestnut trees, where his 
coach, which was drawn by four gray horses, halted. Lafayette arose, 
and after scanning the landscape before him for a few minutes, said, I 
think in these words : ' Somewhere upon that slope I was wounded,' at 
the same time extending his out-spread hand toward a piece of land in 
John Bennett's field, which is a full half-mile south from the meeting 
house." This possibly refers to the same spot as that indicated by the 
two preceding witnesses. 

Henry Bennett, the present owner of the Bennett farm, quotes his 
father, John Bennett (who was born in 1801 and died in 1883) as having 
been informed by Capt. M'Clellan where the latter made his last stand 
near the close of the fight, and at a considerable distance to the south- 
ward of "Sandy Hollow," He also thinks that Capt. M'Clellan inti- 
mated that Lafayette was wounded near the same spot. 

My suggestion is that as Lafayette approached the scene of the battle 
forty-eight years after its occurrence, when the face of the country had 
changed considerably, and coming by way of Dilworthtown, he thought 
he recognized the spot where he was wounded on the hill to the south- 
ward of Sandy Hollow. Proceeding on the road to Birmingham Meet- 
ing he appears, according to the published statements at the time, to 
have recognized the true location after coming in sight of that building. 



74 LAFA YETTE AND BRAND YWINE. 

Lafayette's Memoirs indicate that he was wounded before the arrival of 
Washington, and if Sullivan's statement, that the fight continued an hour 
and forty minutes in sight of the meeting house, be accepted, this and 
other evidence would lead us to believe that Washington's arrival was 
prior to the retreat from the hill. 

In connection with the battle of Brandywine a misapprehension has 
arisen from supposing that the ford, afterward known as Wistar's ( now 
Lenape) bore that name in 1777. John Brinton was then in possession 
on the west side of the stream, and his persistent defiance of the British 
troops by whom he was arrested brought upon him much abuse. The 
property was sold by the sheriff, in 1782, to John Franklin, a merchant, 
of Philadelphia and New York city, who conveyed it to his brother-in- 
law, Caspar Wistar in 1785. There is evidence that the latter was not 
there until 1784. The ford was known as Jones' in 1777, from the Jones 
family by whom the mill on the east side was built in 1759. 

APPENDIX "C." 

Lafayette's Visit to the Brandywine in 1780. 

From Chastellux' 's Travels in North America, p. 233: "The 6th [of 
December, 1780], M. de Lafayette, the Vicomte de Noailles, the Comte 
de Damas, the Chevalier du Plessis Mauduit, Messieurs de Gimat 
and De Neville, aids-de-camp of M. de Lafayette, M. de Montes- 
quieu, Mr. Lynch and myself set out to visit the field of Brandywine, 
thirty miles from Philadelphia. M. de Lafayette had not seen it since, at 
the age of twenty, separating from his wife, his friends, the pleasures of 
the world, and those of youth, at the distance of three thousand miles, 
he there shed the first drop of blood he offered to glory, or rather to 
that noble cause he has invariably supported with the same zeal but with 
better fortune. We passed the Schuylkill at the same ferry where Mr. Du 
Coudray was drowned in 1777. * We there discerned the traces of some 
intrenchments thrown up by the English after they became masters of 
Philadelphia ; then turning to the left, we rode on fourteen miles to the 
little town of Chester. It is built at the junction of the creek of that 
name with the Delaware, and is a sort of port where vessels coming up 
the river sometimes anchor. The houses, to the number of forty or fifty, 
are handsome and built of stone or brick. On leaving Chester, and on 
the road to Brandywine, we pass the stone bridge where M. de Lafayette, 
wounded as he was, stopped the fugitives, and made the first disposition 
for rallying them behind the creek. The country beyond it has nothing 
particular but resembles the rest of Pennsylvania, that is to say, is inter- 
spersed with woods and cultivated lands. It was too late when we came 
within reach of the field of battle, and as we could see nothing till next 
morning, and were too numerous to remain together, it was necessary to 
separate into two divisions. Messieurs de Gimat, De Mauduit, and my 

* Described in Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, page 385. 



APPENDIX " C"— VISITS TO BRAND YWINE. 75 

aids-de-camp, staid with me at the inn, three miles this side of the 
Brandywine ; and M. de Lafayette, attended by the other travellers, went 
further on to ask for quarters at a Quaker's, called Benjamin Ring [?], at 
whose house he lodged with General Washington the night before the 
battle. I joined him early the next morning and found him in great 
friendship with his host, who, Quaker as he was, seemed delighted to 
entertain the Marquis. We got on horseback at nine, provided with a 
plan, executed under the direction of General Howe, and engraved in 
England, but we got more information from the American Major, with 
whom M. de Lafayette had appointed a place of meeting. This officer 
was present at the engagement, and his house being on the field of battle, 
he knew it better than anybody. Whilst we were examining the field of 
battle with the greatest minuteness, our servants went on to Chester to 
prepare dinner and apartments and we soon followed them and got there 
at 4 o'clock." [Query : Was "the American Major " Persifor Frazer?] 

Lafayette's Visit to Chester County in 1825. 

Gen. Lafayette arrived in New York, on Sunday, August 15, 1824. 
The news did not reach West Chester until Tuesday, Aug. 17th. Court 
was then in session. Two volunteer companies of infantry, the Wash- 
ington Guards, under command of Capt. Lauer, and the Wayne Guards, 
under command of Capt. Fleming, had met for the purpose of a 
parade and discipline. The military under the command of Capt. Lauer 
greeted the receipt of the news of General Lafayette's arrival by fir- 
ing a salute and by hearty cheers. Soon after, soldiers and citizens 
collected in the court room. Col. Joseph McClellan, a captain in the 
Continental army and who had served in the Light Infantry corps of 
Gen. Lafayette, was made chairman, and Gen. Isaac D. Barnard, secre- 
tary. Judge Darlington addressed the meeting and offered a resolution 
providing for a meeting of the citizens of Chester county to be held at 
the court house on the 28th of August at eleven o'clock a. m., to make 
arrangements for a reception of the venerable patriot, if he should visit 
the county. At the meeting on the 28th, Hon. Isaac Darlington was ap- 
pointed chairman and Gen. John W. Cunningham, secretary. A com- 
mittee was appointed to prepare resolutions. The resolutions, on behalf 
of the citizens of Chester county, after expressing their joy at the arrival 
of General Lafayette and a grateful sense of the service rendered by 
him to the Republic, designated a committee, consisting of Col. Joseph 
McClellan, Col. Jacob Humphrey, Col. Isaac Wayne, Dr. Jacob Ehren- 
zeller, Col. Cromwell Pearce, Gen. Isaac D. Barnard, Gen. John W. 
Cunningham, Dr. William Darlington, Gen. Joshua Evans and Abraham 
Bailey, Esq., to wait upon the General immediately upon his arrival in 
Philadelphia, and to invite him to visit Chester county, and, in case of 
his acceptance, to make arrangements for his reception, in conjunction 
with a similar committee from Delaware county. On July 18th, 1825, the 
committee gave notice, published on the 20th in the newspapers, that 
Gen. Lafayette had accepted the invitation and would visit the county 



76 LAFA YETTE AND BRAND YWINE. 

on July 26th. The military of the 3d Division were invited to co-operate. 
Maj. Gen. Isaac D. Barnard at the same time issued and published orders 
for the several regiments, independent battalions and companies of 
volunteers of the 3d Division to assemble at 9 o'clock in the morning to 
receive the distinguished guest. Special orders were issued by Col. 
Darlington, J. Shearer, adjutant, of the First Regiment, Chester County 
Volunteers ; by Major Morton, Hiram Armstrong, adjutant, of the Jack- 
son Volunteer Battallion ; and by Capt. Pearce, John Maxwell, F. S., of 
the Junior Artillerists, ordering these organizations to report at Liberty 
Grove, at 9 o'clock a. m., July 26th, prepared to march to the battlefield 
of the Brandywine to meet General Lafayette and escort him to West 
Chester. Volunteer Corps in the vicinity not attached to any volunteer 
regiment or battalion were invited to join the First Regiment on this oc- 
casion — each company to make its own arrangements for accommoda- 
tions and refreshments. 

Early in the morning of July 26th, Gen. Lafayette was waited upon at 
Messrs. Dupont, with whom he had lodged, by Gen. John W. Cunning- 
ham, one of the committee of arrangements, attended by Samson Babb 
and William Williamson, two of the marshals of the day, by whom he 
was conducted to Chads' Ford.* The General was accompanied by his 
son, George Washington Lafayette, M. La Vasseur, his secretary, M. 
Bauduois, a distinguished lawyer from Paris, the Messrs. Dupont, Messrs. 
Louis McLane and N. G. Williamson, committee from Wilmington, and 
Messrs. Lewis, Tilghman and Biddle, committee of Councils from Phila- 
delphia. On coming to the Brandywine near Chads' Ford, the General 
remarked : " It could not be here we crossed ; it must have been further 
up." He was right. 

The party reached Chad's Ford about 11 o'clock a. m., where they 
were met by the committees of Chester and Delaware counties, headed 
by their respective chairmen, Col. Joseph McClellan and Capt. William 
Anderson. All of the Chester county reception committee were 
present here excepting Dr. Ehrenzeller and Dr. Darlington, the latter 
having charge of the First Regiment of Chester County Volunteers, 
stationed at West Chester .to receive the visitors. At this place also Maj. 
Gen. Isaac D. Barnard and his aids, Col. Leiper and Daniel Buckwalter, 
attended by Brigadier Generals Evans and Stanley and their aids, in full 
uniform, also the Chester County troop of Cavalry, commanded by Lieut. 
Thos. Jones, and the Delaware county troop of Cavalry commanded by 
Capt. Thos. Vanleer, the whole under the command of Maj. Wilson, were 
in waiting to escort the General over the battlefield. Jesse Sharp, Chief 
Marshal, with his aids, Thomas H. B. Jacobs and Jesse Conard, and Assis- 
tant Marshals Samson Babb, William Williamson, Joshua Hunt, Thomas 
H. Brinton, Joshua McMinn, Isaac Trimble, David Potts, Jr., Richard 
Walker, Jonathan Jones and Joseph P. McClellan, also attended, to regu- 
late the movement of the great concourse of citizens, in carriages, on 



Chads' Ford " is the correct spelling: Judge Futhey, Republican, Sept. 28, 1875. 



APPENDIX " C "— VISITS TO BRAND YWINE. 7; 

horseback, and on foot, who had gathered at this point, eager to see and 
welcome the nation's guest. 

The General received the greetings of the people and viewed the 
heights around Chads' Ford, and the field where the armies encamped 
the night before the battle, and pointed out the positions of Generals 
Wayne and Maxwell's brigades. He inquired if any one could indicate 
where the bridge of rails was across the Brandywine, but no one was 
able to give the information. He then resumed his seat in his barouche, 
with his companion in arms, Col. McClellan, by his side, and the proces- 
sion, which had been formed, advanced towards Painter's cross roads. 
About a mile from the ford, the General stopped and alighted from his 
carriage, to see Gideon Gilpin, a vei*y aged man, confined to his bed, at 
whose house the General had made his headquarters before the battle. 
The sick man was gratified at the sight of the veteran, who pressed his 
hand warmly and wished him every blessing. 

At Dilworthtown a large concourse of people had gathered ; here 
the procession halted ten minutes, and then, turning off to the left, pro- 
ceeded to the main battlefield. "Show me," said the General, " where 
is the meeting house." When they came fully in view and it was pointed 
out to him, " Oh," said he, " it is here," and he immediately rose on his 
feet, and addressing himself in French to his son and companions, spoke 
animatedly for some time, pointing out the different positions of the two 
armies. Everything was.now familiar to him. The position of Col. Mc- 
Clellan was near him when wounded ; the spot the General pointed out 
in the cornfield of Jacob Bennett [now Mrs. Biddle's lawn], a little east 
and south of where the road from the meetinghouse comes in at right 
angles with the east and west road. [ For further evidence on this ques- 
tion see appendix " B."] 

The procession after a little time moved to the meetinghouse where 
an immense number of people had convened to receive him. After 
viewing the ground here, the General, his companions and friends, 
alighted at the mansion of Samuel Jones, to which they had been pre- 
viously invited, and partook of refreshments provided for the occasion. 
Here were shown to the General a large number of bullets and other 
relics of the conflict, found and collected by Abraham Darlington, Jr. 

The Village Record of Aug. 3, 1825, after detailing the above events, 
says : " The visit to the ground was exceedingly interesting to Lafayette. 
The universal welcome given him, the association of ideas, his compan- 
ions in arms, coming vividly to his recollection ; it was here he first met 
danger, and received a wound in defence of the cause he had espoused — 
the hour of suffering was past and the hour of triumph had come; he was 
sensibly affected." 

After resting half an hour, the trumpet sounded to horse and the pro- 
cession moved on to Strode's mill over the ground on which Howe and 
Cornwallis had advanced to the battle, and thence by the right, to Darl- 
ington's Woods ( now Smedley Darlington's), near the western line of 
the borough. Here the volunteers of the Third Division were drawn up, 



78 LAFA YETTE AND BRAND YWINE. 

agreeably to the orders of Major General Barnard, to receive the General 
and escort him into town. These consisted of the First Regiment of Ches- 
ter County Volunteers, commanded by Col. William Darlington— to 
which were attached Capt. Fleming's Company of Wayne Guards, Capt. 
Wiley's Company of Franklin Guards, and Maj. Elton's Corps of Rifle- 
men, the Chester County Union Volunteer Battalion, commanded by 
Lieut. Col. McDowell, and the Jackson Volunteer Battalion, commanded 
by Maj. Morton — to which Capt, Stewart's independent company of 
volunteers was attached — the whole together comprising seventeen com- 
panies of volunteers, including the two troops of cavalry. On the ap- 
proach of Lafayette, a salute of thirteen guns was fired by the Republi- 
can Artillerists of Chester county, under the command of Lieut. Col. 
Evans, and the troops then wheeled into column ; the First Regiment 
preceded the immediate escort of the General, and the Battalions of 
McDowell and Morton taking their positions in the rear. Thus arranged, 
the whole procession moved into the borough under command of Gen. 
Barnard, by way of the present Rosedale avenue, to High street, at 
the State Normal School, and thence up High street. The cavalcade of 
citizens in the rear was conducted by Chief Marshal Jesse Sharp, and his 
aids and assistants whose names have already been given. 

The crowd which had gathered here was immense. It is estimated 
that there were not less than ten thousand persons present. The heart 
of the General was deeply touched. As he rode through the throngs that 
filled the streets he was heard frequently to exclaim " Happy people ! 
Happy people !" 

The procession passed up High street to Market, down Market to 
Walnut, up Walnut to Gay, up Gay to High, down High to Market, up 
Market to Church, up Church to Gay, down Gay to High, and out High 
to a field of Jesse Matlack, on the hill east of the Friends' meetinghouse. 
Here the troops were reviewed by General Lafayette, on foot, who ex- 
pressed his great satisfaction at their appearance and soldier-like behavior. 
He then passed in his barouche in front of several hundred mounted 
citizens, formed in the same field under the direction of the chief mar- 
shal, and was then conducted by the committee to the residence of Ziba 
Pyle, the chief burgess, at the north-east corner of Gay and Church 
streets. The troops wheeled into column and returned into the town, 
where they gave the marching salute as they passed the General at his 
quarters, and they were then dismissed. It is believed that " Lafayette 
street," in this neighborhood, took its name from this occasion. 

After a brief repose, the General and his companions were conducted 
to the grand jury room in the court house, which had been tastefully 
decorated by the ladies for the occasion, and where a dinner had been 
provided by Eber Worthington, the proprietor of the Turk's Head hotel. 
The entertainment was attended by the committees of arrangement and 
a limited number of invited guests, with General Lafayette and his friends, 
in all about forty persons. The sun was getting low when the party re- 
paired to the court house. 




Thos. Sully, Pinx. Phila. Engraving Co. Tt+E J ° HN M - Rogers Press, Wil., Del. 

LAFAYETTE. 

' From a portrait painted by Sully in 1824 for the City of Philadelphia, 
now in Independence Hall. Size, heroic. The figures in the back- 
ground are the City Troop, who acted as special escort for Gen. 
Lafayette on his visit to Philadelphia in 1824-5. 

gully's study for the above portrait is in the possession of Mr. Herbert 

Welsh, of Philadelphia, through whose courtesy the Chester County 

Historical Society has received a photographic copy. 



APPENDIX" C"— VISITS TO BRANDYWINE. 79 

When the company had assembled at the table, his old comrade in the 
Revolution, the venerable Col. Joseph McClellan, rose, and, on behalf of 
the committee of reception, addressed the honored guest as follows : 

11 General : It is our happiness to be appointed, by our fellow-citizens, 
to greet you upon your visit to the scenes of your youthful gallantry, on 
the banks of the Brandywine, and to bid you a sincere and cordial wel- 
come to the bosom of our county. Language, indeed, can but feebly 
portray the joyous and grateful emotions with which we behold amongst 
us, after a lapse of eight and forty years, the illustrious friend of human 
rights, who relinquished the endearments of his domestic circle in a dis- 
tant land, to aid the fathers of our country in their struggle for indepen- 
dence, and who, on this ground, sealed with his blood his devotion to the 
cause of American liberty. 

"In you, sir, we recognize, with the profoundest respect and venera- 
tion, the early, disinterested and steadfast champion of our glorious 
Revolution— the companion of our Washington, our Wayne, and their 
gallant compatriots in arms — the youthful volunteer, who shared the toils 
of our fathers to secure the blessings of Republican freedom to our land, 
and who, by the favor of heaven, has been preserved to witness the hap- 
piness and receive the benedictions of their grateful offspring. 

" We exult in the contemplation of a character whose pure, intrepid, 
and uniform devotion to the rights of man, has been equally conspicuous 
in the battle-fields of the western, and in the councils, the courts, and 
the dungeons, of the eastern hemisphere. 

"We rejoice that a signal opportunity has been afforded to our coun- 
trymen to repel the slander of despots, and their hirelings, that republics 
are ungrateful ; and although the plain and unpretending citizens of the 
ancient county of Chester do not presume to vie with their brethren of 
our opulent towns and cities, in the splendor of your reception, yet 
we flatter ourselves that you will receive, with your wonted kindness, the 
spontaneous and unaffected homage of a happy community, who wel- 
come you with eyes beaming with reverence and delight, and hearts 
filled with the purest sentiments of gratitude and affection." 

To which General Lafayette made the following reply : 

"While I have with unbounded gratitude enjoyed the fondly antici- 
pated happiness to meet in this town the citizens of the county of 
Chester, and the additional pleasure to be here most kindly welcomed in 
the name of the people by an old companion in arms, I have also to ac- 
knowledge the affectionate greetings that have this day hailed your 
brother soldier on the grounds of one of our most important battles. 

" Although, owing to some accidental occurrences, victory was not that 
day on our side, the manner in which it was disputed by our patriotic 
troops did, no doubt, contribute to inspire several of the British leaders 
with a spirit of caution more than once beneficial to us. The thought of 
its having been my first action under the American standard, and our 
great and good commander-in-chief, in company with your gallant Ches- 
ter-county-man, my friend Gen. Wayne, and my other comrades, — the 



80 LAFAYETTE AND BRANDYWINE. 

honor to have mingled my blood with that of many other American 
soldiers on the heights of the Brandywine — had been to me a source of 
pride and delight, near half a century before it has lately become an oc- 
casion of the most honorable, kind, and gratifying remembrance ; as it is 
now an object of your friendly congratulations. 

" Happy I am, also, in your testimonies of affection and esteem, for 
my conduct in the vicissitudes of my life, on both hemispheres ; and I 
beg you, my dear sir, and you, gentlemen of the committee, to accept in 
your own name, and in behalf of the people of Chester county, my affec- 
tionate and respectful acknowledgments." 

Rev. Wm. Latta then asked the following blessing : " Almighty God, 
our heavenly Father, we give thee thanks for the great and distinguished 
blessings which, as a nation, we enjoy, and which are brought impres- 
sively to our recollection by the occurrences of this day. We thank thee 
that thou wert pleased to infuse a love of liberty into the bosoms of our 
fathers, and, while yet in our infancy, to inspire them with courage and 
fortitude to undertake its accomplishment. We thank thee that this 
spirit was carried into a foreign land, and that thou wert pleased to put it 
into the heart of thy servant, with whose presence we are now favored, 
to visit these distant shores, and, embarking in our fortunes, generously 
to lend his aid in effecting our independence. We thank thee that, 
amidst the multiplied dangers and trials which he has since encountered, 
thou hast spared his precious life ; and that, after a lapse of so many 
years, thou hast permitted him once more to revisit these shores, to re- 
ceive the grateful tribute of an affectionate people, and to witness the 
rich fruits of that liberty which he was so instrumental in achieving. May 
thy blessing still go with htm ; and when he bids a final adieu to this 
land, which has shared so richly of his blood and of his toils, may the 
winds and the waves be rendered propitious to his return, and, in due 
time, may he be carried in safety to the bosom of his beloved family, to 
spend his declining years in tranquility and ease, and may he, at last, go 
down to the grave in peace, to receive honors infinitely greater than 
have been, or ever can be, awarded to him here. On the day of final ac- 
count, may he be found among the ransomed of the Lord, and, rising 
in the triumph of our blessed Redeemer, be put in possession of a crown 
which shall never fade away. 

" Command thy blessing, O Lord, upon each of us here assembled on 
this interesting occasion. May we recognize thy hand in every blessing, 
feel our obligations for every enjoyment, and our responsibility for all 
our conduct. Bless our social intercourse on this occasion, help us to 
order our conduct aright before thee, forgive us our sins and graciously 
accept us, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." 

When the dinner was concluded, the following toasts and sentiments 
were drank, accompanied by the music of the band belonging to Cap- 
tain Joseph Pierce's company of Junior Artillerists : 



APPENDIX "C"— VISITS TO BRAND YWINE. 8 1 

Regular Toasts. 

i. Our Country : Blest with the oldest legitimate government now in 
existence. Music, Hail Columbia. 

2. The President of the United States. President's March. 

3. The Governor of Pennsylvania. Governor's March. 

4. The Memory of the Father of his Country. Roslin Castle. 

5. The Heroes and Statesmen of our Revolution. 

Washington's March. 

6. The late Presidents of the United States : Enjoying in their dignified 
retirement the benedictions of a free and grateful people. What a 
lesson to the occupants and supporters of thrones ! 

In the downhill of Life. 

7. The " Nation's Guest : " While our Country reveres and lauds her 
Washington, and our County justly boasts of her Wayne, the votaries of 
rational liberty, in both hemispheres, claim an interest in Lafayette. 

Cheers : Marseilles Hymn. 

[ When this toast was drank, the General rose, and, after thanking the 
committee for the honor done him, proposed the following, which was 
cordially greeted by the company : 

By General Lafayette : The County of Chester, and the Memory of her 
gallant citizen, Gen. Wayne : May the blood spilled by thousands with 
equal merit in the cause of independence and freedom, be to the ensuing 
generations an eternal pledge of unalloyed republicanism, federal union, 
public prosperity, and domestic happiness. Music, Stony Point.~\ 

8. The nth of September, 1777 : A day consecrated to liberty by the 
blood of her votaries on the banks of the Brandy wine ; though the sacri- 
fice was great, the reward was rich indeed. Auld lang Syne* 



* When the 8th toast was drank, the following song was volunteered by Doctor Dar- 
lington : 

Lafayette at Brandywine. 

Tune, Auld lang Syne. 

Should days of trial be forgot, 

Although those days have fled ? 
Can we neglect the sacred spot, 
Where patriot heroes bled? 

Ah, no 1 those days of auld lang syne, 

We never can forget, 
When, with our sires, to Brandywine, 
Came gallant Lafayette. 

By Brandywine's enchanting stream, 

Our swains in peace abode, 
Until the tyrant's minions came 

To stain its banks with blood. 
And oh ! those days, &c. 

To meet the foemen on the plain, 

Each patriot onward press'd ; 
And there, with Washington and Wayne, 

Appear'd our honor'd Guest. 
Those anxious days, &c. 



82 LAFA YETJ'E AND BRAND YWINE. 

9. The amiable Family of La Grange : Who possess the only prior 
claim we can ever recognize to the person of our illustrious friend and 
benefactor. Life let us cherish. 

10. The Army and Navy of the United States : The shield and buckler 
of the nation, wielded only in defence of its just rights. 

Yankee Doodle. 

11. Bolivar : Great is the character which he has to sustain, for he has 
nobly acquired that of " the Washington of the South." 

Hail to the Chief. 

12. Greece : May her sons be animated with the spirit of their ances- 
tors, until she is restored to her ancient liberty and grandeur. Ca ira. 

13. The American Fair : Whose virtues adorn the republic, and whose 
smiles reward its benefactors. Green grow the Rashes O. 

Volunteer Toasts. 

By the Hon. Isaac Wayne. — The People of the United States : May 
they ever feel grateful for that protecting hand which has safely con- 
ducted, to each of the twenty-four states of their union, the gallant de- 
fender, the early and steady benefactor of their country — the nation's 
guest — the good, amiable, and intelligent Lafayette. 

By Capt. William Anderson. — The genuine Republican, General La- 
fayette : Who has in all, and the most trying situations, adhered to and 
promoted the cause of liberty. 

By Gen. John W. Cunningham. — The Memory of Washington : In the 
cabinet, and in the field, we ne'er shall look upon his like again. 

By Ziba Pyle, Esq., (Chief Burgess of West Chester ).— General La- 
fayette : His visits to Chester county in 1777 and 1825 will be held in 
grateful remembrance by its citizens. 

By Brigadier Gen. Joshua Evans. — Our honored Guest : In his youth, 
he shed his blood on the banks of the Brandywine, in defence of Ameri- 
can liberty ; and in his old age, he will be borne on the grateful bosom of 
"The Brandywine," f to the embraces of his family. 

By Doctor Wm. Darlington.— The fields of the Brandywine : Irrigated, 
on the Cadmean system of agriculture, with the blood of Revolutionary 
patriots, the teeming crop must ever be independent freemen. 



And there he bore him in the van, 

Where Washington still led ; 
And to sustain the rights of man, 

The youthful warrior bled. 
Those fearful days, &c. 

Then, long as our romantic stream 

Shall roll its silver wave, 
Its vales shall echo with the name 
Of Lafayette, the brave. 

For ah ! those days of auld lang syne, 

We never can forget, 
When, with our sires, to Brandywine, 
Came gallant Lafayette. 

fThe name of the vessel which conveyed Gen. Lafayette to France. 



APPENDIX "C"— VISITS TO BRANDYWINE. 83 

By the Hon. Louis M'Lane, of Delaware.— The battle ground we have 
viewed to-day : Whether the theatre of victory or defeat, let the effects 
be tested by the free industry and happy population which now crowd its 
surface. 

By Abraham Baily. — The Memory of Major General Anthony Wayne : 
His distinguished services, as a soldier and statesman, eminently entitle 
him to the grateful remembrance of his countrymen. 

By the Committee of Reception.— Our brethren, the City Councils of 
Philadelphia : To whose gentlemanly kindness and attention we are 
greatly indebted, on this happy occasion. 

By Joseph S. Lewis, of the City Councils. — The cordial affection exist- 
ing between Philadelphia and her sister counties : May it always con- 
tinue and constantly increase. 

At the conclusion of the toasts, a number of citizens were introduced 
to the General in the court room, and he then repaired again to the 
residence of Ziba Pyle, where he spent the night. During the evening 
he was visited by many ladies and gentlemen, who were introduced to 
him, and whom he received with his accustomed ease and kindness. 
Among others to whom he gave an affectionate welcome, was a daughter 
of Associate Judge John Davis, a veteran under his command at York- 
town, Virginia, who was introduced by Col. Isaac Wayne. Many young 
people were presented and received a friendly greeting, which was 
cherished as a fond memory for many years. Among these was Henry 
C. Townsend, now a leading member of the Philadelphia bar, and a 
valued member of the Chester County Historical Society. His presence 
at the exercises of dedication of the memorial shaft erected to mark the 
place where Gen. Lafayette was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, 
added interest to that occasion. 

The headquarters of General Lafayette and his party while in West 
Chester, was at the old White Hall hotel, at the southeast corner of 
Gay and Church streets. 

The day was spent as a holiday by a great part of the county. The 
weather was cool and delightful. From the time the party entered Ches- 
ter county near Chads' Ford, the roads were lined' with enthusiastic spec- 
tators. Flowers, flags and. handkerchiefs greeted the General and his 
party at every turn. Badges with portraits of Lafayette and Washing- 
ton were worn by many. A profusion of bunting was displayed from the 
houses, containing prints of Lafayette. Several of these badges were 
shown at the exercises . reported above, and were worn with the 
badges of the Chester County Historical Society, which consisted of a 
miniature silk American flag with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes at- 
tached to a white silk badge, stamped with the seal of the society, and 
the dates, " September nth, 1777-1895." 

The next morning, July 27, 1825, Col. McClellan, Col. Humphrey, Col. 
Pearce and Gen. Barnard accompanied Gen. Lafayette out the Strasburg 
road to Col. Filson's hotel at Humphreysville, some fourteen miles from 
West Chester, where they arrived about 9.30 o'clock. A great number 



84 LAFA YETTE AND BRAND YWINE. 

of ladies and gentlemen, many from Lancaster county, had gathered here 
to meet the distinguished visitors. Many gentlemen were on horseback, 
under command of Col. Chas. W. Humphrey. The breakfast room was 
decorated with wreaths and festoons of evergreens intertwined with 
natural and artificial flowers. From the center of an arch directly over 
the General's plate and partially enveloped in the evergreens, a small 
golden eagle was suspended. The General was seated between Col. 
McClellan and Col. Humphrey. Four of the neighboring clergy and 
several other gentleman were also at the table. About fifteen minutes 
past ten three handsome barouches, which had been sent from Lancaster 
city, with two troops of horse, commanded by Capt. Diller and Capt. 
Buckley, drew up to the door. General Lafayette, accompanied by Gen. 
Geo. B. Porter, ascended the first conveyance, — his son and secretary 
and the gentlemen composing the committee from that city, occupied the 
other two, — and in a few minutes the eyes of the crowd of Chester county 
spectators lost sight forever of the great and good Lafayette. 

General Lafayette proceeded from Lancaster to Baltimore and thence 
to Washington, where he was the guest of President John Quincy Adams. 
He visited the ex-Presidents Jefferson, Madison and Monroe (to the 
latter accompanied by President Adams), at their respective residences in 
Virginia, and, on Sept. 9, 1825, sailed for his home in a new frigate named, 
in compliment to him, " the Brandy wine." 

Levasseur's Journal. 

M. Levasseur, secretary to General Lafayette during his journey, pre- 
pared and published a journal of the tour through the country, entitled 
"Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825." The following extracts are 
given as of especial interest to Chester county readers : 

" In the evening [ of Sept. 11, 1824] we dined with the French resi- 
dents of New York, who wished to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the 
battle of Brandy wine. The dinner was prepared at Washington Hall." 
The decorations were most elaborate. Many patriotic toasts were drank 
and some stanzas to Lafayette were read. Page 95. 

"The assembly [ at Hartford ] could scarcely retain their emotion 
when old General Wadsworth entered bearing the epaulettes and scarf 
worn by Lafayette at the battle of Brandy wine, where he was wounded. 
The scarf still retained traces of his blood. These epaulettes and scarf 
were given to General Swift after the peace, and his family had pre- 
served them carefully, in memory of him who wore them, and the cause 
he defended." Page 81. 

"The week we had just spent in Philadelphia, as it were, in his own 
family, had entirely composed the fatigue of the General, and, although 
the heat continued excessive, he undertook, on the 25th, his journey to 
Wilmington, where a great number of Pennsylvanians and Virginians 
were in waiting to conduct him to the field of the battle of Brandywine. 
This field was not rendered illustrious by a victory, as has been said, but 
its remembrance is not less dear to Americans, who gratefully recollect 



APPENDIX "C"— VISITS TO BRAND YWINE. 85 

the blood spilled there by their fathers, and by young Lafayette, in the 
defence of their rights, and to secure their independence. Happy that 
country in which events are appreciated more by their influence on its 
destinies than by the eclat of the moment ! The men who took the first 
steps in procuring the liberties of the United States in the battles of 
Bunker's Hill and on the banks of the Brandywine, are at this day not 
less honored in the eyes of the nation, than those who sealed it at last 
at the battle of Yorktown. 

" In the beginning of September, 1777, General Howe, at the head of 
eighteen thousand men of the British army, embarked on board the fleet 
commanded by his brother, and left New York without the possibility of 
the Americans ascertaining precisely the object of his expedition. A few 
days after it was ascertained that he had entered the Chesapeake, and had 
landed at the head of Elk, for the purpose of marching to attack Phila- 
delphia. Washington immediately marched through this city, where the 
Congress were then in session, and advanced to meet the enemy, annoying 
him with several attacks between the point of his debarkation and a small 
'stream, the Brandywine, behind which the American army, greatly in- 
ferior in number, and composed almost wholly of militia, had just taken 
their position. Chads' Ford was in front of their encampment, where it 
was contemplated to give them battle, but General Howe, leaving a body of 
troops on the opposite side of the stream, in order to cover his manoeuvre, 
marched forward to pass another ford on the right of the Americans. 
This movement was so much the more difficult to reconnoitre, as the 
banks of the stream were densely grown with wood, and, by a singular 
fatality, the two parallel roads leading to the two fords were called by the 
same name, so that the reports received by Washington from his scouts, 
though apparently contradictory, were nevertheless true. This confusion 
of names threw the American general into a most painful anxiety ; he 
hesitated too long on the course he was to pursue, and lost a most 
precious moment which might have given him the victory. Had he been 
able to procure definite intelligence of the movements of the enemy, he 
would have passed the ford before him, and most certainly would have 
defeated the British division which remained at Chads' Ford, commanded 
by Knyphausen, and then falling suddenly on the body under General 
Howe, surprising him by an attack in flank, would almost inevitably have 
succeeded in a complete defeat of the English army ; but the occasion 
passed rapidly, and the firing of muskets on his right soon apprised 
Washington of the danger of his situation. Happily he had established 
a position behind the second ford, of three brigades, commanded by Sul- 
livan and Stirling. These three brigades sustained the attack with 
vigor, and for a short time arrested the British by a deadly fire ; but 
their line being attacked both right and left, by superior forces, the wings 
gave way. The centre continued its position firmly, in defiance of the 
shower of broken brass that was poured in upon them. But this centre 
itself at last began to yield, and was about to beat a retreat, when young 
Lafayette, notwithstanding his rank of brevet-major, was yet serving as a 



86 LAFA YETTE AND BRAND YWINE. 

simple volunteer near the commander-in-chief, dismounted from his horse, 
and went, sword in hand, to place himself at the head of a company of 
grenadiers, who, reanimated by his noble effort, maintained themselves 
firmly for a few moments. Soon, however, Lafayette received a shot 
below the knee, and was obliged to retire with his grenadiers ; but he 
had already reaped the reward of his devotedness, for he had procured 
the opportunity for Washington to join the division of General Greene, 
and of recommencing the action in a second line. Here the fight raged 
on either side with obstinate perseverance, and the astonishing spectacle 
was exhibited of militia rallying after a first check, and fronting with firm 
step an enemy superior in numbers and in discipline. The event of this 
second contest was yet doubtful, when suddenly Washington learned 
that the pass of Chads' Ford was forced, and that Knyphausen was about 
to fall on his left flank ; he immediately resolved to secure a retreat to 
Chester, where he arrived with his army the same evening. 

"The battle was lost, but the British had paid dear for their victory, 
and the moral force of the Americans was augmented even by their defeat. 
In this day's engagement Lafayette had sealed with his blood his alliance 
with the principles for which he had crossed the ocean, and forever se- 
cured to himself the gratitude of a nation amongst whom generous and 
noble sentiments outlive the ravages of time. 

" It was once more to evince their gratitude for their long tried friend, 
that the revolutionary soldiers of Pennsylvania and Virginia had now as- 
sembled with their sons, to conduct Lafayette to the field of the battle 
of Brandywine. We left Chester on the 26th of July, with a retinue, at 
the head of which appeared the two oldest revolutionary officers of the 
neighboring counties, Colonel McLean and Captain Anderson. Numer- 
ous bodies of militia had preceded us, and were already gone to take 
their position at the ancient encampment of the American army, where 
may yet be discovered traces of one of the redoubts. It was about noon 
when we arrived on the borders of the Brandywine, along which we were 
to travel to the point at which, as we had been informed, the army had 
passed. But on approaching the stream, General Lafayette cast a glance 
on the surrounding country, and said, ' It cannot be here that we passed 
in 1777, it must be a little higher up the stream.' It was in fact ascer- 
tained that the passage had been effected just above the spot we occu- 
pied. This accuracy of observation and vivid recollection excited in a 
high degree the admiration of the numerous witnesses. 

"At Chads' Ford the General learned that one of his companions in 
arms, Gideon Gilpin, under whose roof he had passed the night before 
the battle, was now confined to bed by age and infirmity, and despaired 
of being able to join his fellow citizens in their testimony of respect 
to the General : he went to visit the aged soldier, whom he found sur- 
rounded by his family. Gideon Gilpin, notwithstanding his extreme 
weakness, recognized him on his entrance, and proved by tears of grate- 
ful and tender recollection how much this visit tended to the comfort and 
soothing of his last moments. 



. APPENDIX "C"— VISITS TO BRAND YWINE. 87 

" On arriving at the field of battle, General Lafayette recognized suc- 
cessively, and pointed out to us himself, all the principal points on which 
the two armies had manoeuvred and fought on the nth of September, 
1777 ; nor did his recollection wander a single moment. Being arrived 
at the spot where the first attack was made, and where he had been 
wounded, he paused a moment ; his ancient companions pressed around 
his carriage, and the militia passed before him, amid the loudest accla- 
mations and the cry a thousand times re-echoed, "long live Lafayette." 
During the whole of this scene, of profound emotion on his part, and which 
his modesty induced him frequently to attempt to abridge, he spoke to 
those around him of nothing but the presence of mind evinced by Wash- 
ington on the fatal day of the nth September, and of the courage mani- 
fested by the officers and soldiers in supporting him. But in vain he re- 
called the names of the most illustrious chiefs, and attributed to them all 
the glory of having saved the army : the reply he received was by pointing 
him to the soil on which he had spilled his blood, and the sight of this inde- 
structible monument exalted to the highest degree the gratitude of the 
crowd of spectators who accompanied him. In prolonging our excursion 
along the route by which the British had conducted their first attack, we 
arrived at the house of Mr. Samuel Jones. It had been for a short time 
occupied by General Howe during the battle, and yet retains traces of the 
well directed fire of the American artillery. After the elegant collation 
with which we were entertained by Mrs. Jones, we had presented to us 
various implements and remains of arms found on the field of battle ; and 
we returned with these precious relics to West Chester, where we con- 
cluded the day in the enjoyment of festivities prepared by the inhabitants. 

" In the multiplied recitals I have made of the public rejoicings at which 
I assisted, during my stay in the United States, it was impossible not to be 
struck with the constant association of religious ideas and patriotic senti- 
ments which so strongly characterize the citizens of this republic: but 
what is not less remarkable is, that their religion, free of practical 
minutiae, seems as much an uniform sentiment as their love of liberty re- 
sembles an uniform faith. With them a political orator never terminates 
a prepared address without an invocation, or grateful recognition of divine 
power ; and a minister of the gospel, on taking the pulpit, commences by 
recalling to the notice of his auditors their duties as citizens, and their pe- 
culiar privileges in living under the wise institutions of their country. It 
may also be remarked, that this union of political morals and theology 
influences all the actions of the Americans with a gravity and deep con- 
viction, the charm and tendency of which are wholly inexpressible. How 
could any one listen to these simple and touching invocations without 
being deeply affected, and without uniting in their humble and pious 
acknowledgments ? We were about being seated at the hospitable 
board prepared by the citizens of West Chester at the National Hotel, [?] 
when the president of the day remarked that a minister of the church 
was in the company, and invited him to ask a blessing on the assemblage, 
which was done in the most affecting manner by the Rev. William Latta. 



88 LAFAYETTE AND BRANDYWINE. 

"A committee of the citizens of Lancaster having been deputed to es- 
cort General Lafayette from West Chester, he committed himself to their 
care on the 27th, after taking leave of a great number of the soldiers of 
1776, who could not receive the last adieu of the aged general without 
testifying their emotion with tears." — La Vasseur 's Journal. 

Lafayette's Statement of his Wounding. 

The following interview was published in " Poulson's Advertiser" of 
Feb. 25, 1825. It is republished in Martin's "History of Chester," page 
255. Being asked the character of the wound, General Lafayette replied : 

"The ball went through and through ; I was on foot when I received 
my wound ; a part of our line had given way, but a part still held its 
ground. To these I repaired. To encourage my comrades, and to show 
them I had no better chance of flight than they, I ordered my horse to the 
rear. The news of my being hurt was conveyed to the commander-in- 
chief, with the usual exaggerations in such cases. The good General 
Washington freely expressed his grief that one so young, and a volunteer 
in the holy cause of freedom, should so early have fallen ; but he was 
soon relieved by an assurance that my wound would stop short of life, 
when he sent me his love and gratulation that matters were no worse. 
On the field of battle the surgeon prepared his dressings, but the shot 
fell so thick around us, that in a very little time, if we had remained, we 
should both have been past all surgery. Being mounted on my horse I 
left the field, and repaired to the bridge near Chester, where I halted and 
placed a guard, to stop fugitive soldiers, and direct them to join their re- 
spective regiments. I could do no more ; becoming faint, I was carried 
into a house in Chester and laid on a table, when my wound received its 
first dressing. 

"The general officers soon arrived, when I saluted them by begging 
that they would not eat me up, as they appeared to be very hungry, and I 
was the only dish upon the table in the house. The good general-in-chief 
was much gratified on finding me in such spirits, and caused a litter to be 
made, on which I was conveyed to the Indian Queen in Philadelphia, and 
was there waited upon by the members of Congress, who were all booted 
and spurred and on the wing for a place of greater safety to hold their 
sessions. The enemy continuing to advance, I was removed to Bristol, 
and thence in the coach of President Laurens ( and coaches were rare in 
those days ) to Reading [Bethlehem], where I remained until so much 
recovered as to be able to repair to head-quarters." 

Note to Page 75. 
As to query at end of first paragraph of p. 75: Lieut. Col. (late Maj.) Fra2er and Maj. 
John Harper were taken prisoners four days after the battle while reconnoitering the enemy. 
They were taken to Phila. Col. Frazer escaped March 17, 1778. Maj. Harper was re- 
leased Nov. 4, 1780. Lafayette's visit was just one month later. It is not unlikely that Maj. 
Harper was then at his home. Col. Frazer was probably in active service. Besides, his 
house was some six miles east of the battlefield. Maj. Harper is said to have died in Dil- 
worthtown. If his home was there in 1777 he was no doubt "the American Major" who 
accompanied Lafayette in 1780. Maj. Harper kept tavern in Chester in 1784. 



APPENDIX" D"— OFFICERS AND MEMBERS. 89 

APPENDIX "D." 
Officers and Members of Chester County Historical Society. 



PRESIDENT. 

George Morris Philips. 

VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

William D. Hartman, M. D. 
Alfred Sharpless. 

DIRECTORS. 

Gilbert Cope, 
Gibbons Gray Cornwell, 
Daniel W. Howard, 
James Monaghan, 
George Morris Philips. 

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. 

William T. Sharpless, M. D. 

RECORDING SECRETARY. 

Gilbert Cope. 

TREASURER. 

James C. Sellers. 

CURATORS. 

Alice Lewis, 

William T. Sharpless, M. D. 



Linda M. Hoopes, Alfred Sharpless, 

Alice Lewis, Gilbert Cope, 

Mary I. Stille, Gibbons G. Cornwell, 

Joseph Thompson, George M. Philips, 

William P. Sharpless, Daniel W. Howard, 

Samuel Marshall, James Monaghan, 

William D. Hartman, William T. Sharpless; 
James C. Sellers. 



Life Members. 

Gilbert Cope, West Chester, Dr. Thos. E. Parke, Downingtown, 

Rebecca M. Hemphill, West Chester, Chas. H. Pennypacker, W. Chester, 

Samuel Marshall, West Chester, Dr. Chas. Schaeffer, Philadelphia, 

J. Preston Thomas, Whitford. 



90 



APPENDIX "D"—R0LL OF MEMBERS. 



Members. 

Wilton Agnew, Kennett Square, Dr. Isaac Massey, West Chester, 
John L. Balderston, Kennett Square, Thos. Mercer, West Chester, 



Edwin A. Barber, West Chester, 
Mary D. Biddle, Seal, 
Henry L. Brinton, Oxford, 
William Brower, Spring City, 
Rev. Wm. L. Bull, Whitford, 
Geo. A. Chandler, S. Bethlehem, 
Jesse S. Cheyney, Jr., Philadelphia, 
C. B. Cochran, Normal School, 



James Monaghan, West Chester, 
Anna J. Monaghan, West Chester, 
Thos. H. Montgomery, W. Chester, 
Daniel F. Moore, Phcenixville, 
Benjamin Nields, Wilmington, 
Gertrude W. Nields, Wilmington, 
Septimus E. Nivin, Lande'nberg, 
Thos. L. Ogier, West Chester, 



Albert Commons, Wilmington, Del.,Rees Palmer, West Chester, 
Gibbons G. Cornwell, West Chester, Dr. Chas. R. Palmer, W. Chester, 
John H. Darlington, West Chester, Richard G. Park, West Chester, 



Anna J. Davis, West Pikeland 
Hugh DeHaven, Westtown, 
Watson W. Dewees, Westtown, 
Rev. Jos. S. Evans, West Chester, 
Sara Cochran Evans, West Chester, 
J. R. Flickinger, Normal School, 
H. H. Gilkyson, Phcenixville, 
John Gilpin, West Chester, 
Thomas Allen Glenn, Ardmore, 
Phebe Griffith, West Chester, 
Frank D. Green, Philadelphia, 
Edward H. Hall, West Chester, 
Jsaac N. Haines, West Chester, 
Dr. Wm. D. Hartman, W. Chester, 
J. Carroll Hayes, West Chester, 
H. F. C. Heagey, Cochranville, 
E. Dallett Hemphill, Jr.,W. Chester, 



John A. M. Passmore, Philadelphia, 
Hon. S. W. Pennypacker, Phila., 
WilmerE. Pennypacker, W. Chester, 
Geo. M. Philips, Normal School, 
Dr. Jac'ob Price, West Chester, 
Dr. Joseph Price, Whitford, 
Charles E. Pugh, Phila., 
Mary E. Roberts, West Chester, 
Josephine Roberts, West Chester, 
George H. Roberts, West Chester, 
Dr. Jos. T. Rothrock, W. Chester, 
Julius F. Sachse, Philadelphia, 
S. Emlen Sharpies, West Chester, 
Martha S. Sharpies, West Chester, 
Alfred D. Sharpies, West Chester, 
Alfred Sharpless, West Chester, 
Wm. P. Sharpless, West Chester, 



F. Sharpless Hickman, W. Chester, Wm. T. Sharpless, West Chester, 



Louis A. Holton, Coatesville, 
Chas. R. Hoopes, West Chester, 
Linda M. Hoopes, West Chester, 
Daniel W. Howard, West Chester, 
J. Newton Huston, West Chester, 
Geo. B. Johnson, West Chester, 
Addison Jones, West Chester, 
H. Rush Kervey, West Chester, 
Samuel Lamborn, Philadelphia, 
Wm. J. Latta, Philadelphia, 
Josiah W. Leeds, Seal, 
Alice Lewis, West Chester, 
Walter H. Lewis, West Chester, 
John P. Logan. West Chester. 



Matthias Sheeleigh, Ft. Washington, 
James C. Sellers, West Chester, 
Harry Sloyer, Phcenixville, 
Mary Hopkins Smith, Parkesburg, 
Susan Brinton Smith, Parkesburg, 
Harris E. Sproat, Westtown, 
Mary I. Stille, West Chester, 
Theodore K. Stubbs, Oxford, 
C. Wesley Talbot, West Chester, 
Horace F. Temple, West Chester, 
Geo. B. Thomas, West Chester, 
Joseph Thompson, West Chester, 
Benj. Thompson, Landenberg, 
Henry C. Townsend, Philadelphia, 



Jennie Hibberd Logan, W. Chester, Samuel Wagner, Green Hill, 
William P. Logan, West Chester, Joseph S. Walton, Ercildoun, 
Geo. B. McCormick, West Chester, Geo. F. P. Wanger, Pottstown, 
Mary Elizabeth Maison, Cheyney, William Wayne, Paoli, 
Hannah A. Marshall, West Chester, Chas. Benj. Wilkinson, Philadelphia, 
Wm. P. Marshall, West Chester, Harry Wilson, Gum Tree, 
Samuel L. Martindale, Oxford, W. Warren Woodruff, W. Chester. 

Honorary Members. 
Daniel G. Brinton, Philadelphia, Charlton T. Lewis, New York City. 



* Curtis H. Hannum, West Chester. 



Erratum on page 96: Amount of Phoenixville School Contribution, $9.50. 
Erratum to page 102: Cannon "g," line 33 from bottom, should probably be q. 



APPENDIX "Br— LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. 91 

APPENDIX "E." 
List of Contributors to Memorial Shaft Fund. 



Wilton Agnew, Kennett Square, 

E. A. Barber and family, W. Chester 
N. H. Benjamin, Phoenixville, 
Mary D. Biddle, Seal P. O., 
Christine Biddle, Seal P. O., 
Henry L. Brinton, Oxford, 
Col. Joseph P. Brinton, W. Goshen, 
H. B. Buckwalter, West Chester, 
Rev. William L. Bull, Whitford, 
Hon. William Butler, West Chester, 



Rev. J. H. Chambers, West Chester, 50 

Elisha G. Cloud, Unionville, 1 00 

G. G. Cornwell, West Chester, 1 00 

R. T. Cornwell, " " 5 00 



2 


5° 


5 


00 


10 


00 


5 


00 


1 


00 


5 


00 


2 


00 


5 


00 


5 


00 



Percy S. Darlington, West Chester, 
Richard Darlington, " " 

Smedley Darlington, " 
Annie J. Davis, West Pikeland, 
Samuel R. Dickey, Oxford, 
Roland W. Diller, Springfield, 111., 
William Dowlin, West Chester, 

Dr. Thos. D. Dunn, " " 

Mattie A. England, West Chester, 

Rev. Jos. S. Evans, " 

Dr. John R. Everhart, " " 

Michael Farrell, West Chester, 

Albin Garrett, Westtown, 

R. Thomas Garrett, West Goshen, 

H. H. Gilkyson, Phcenixville, 

John R. Gilpin, West Chester, 

Emma E. Gilpin, " 

Vincent Gilpin, 

Charles M. Grimm, " 

O. F. Groff, 

Col Henry R. Guss, " 

Curtis H. Hannum, West Chester, 

J. Frank E. Hause, 

E. Dallett Hemphill, " 

Rebecca M. Hemphill, " 

Rebecca Hemphill, 

Clara Hemphill, 

E. Dallett Hemphill, Jr., " " 
Marjorie Hemphill, " " 
James Mitchell Hemphill" 
Isaac Mickle Hemphill, " 
John Mickle Hemphill, " 

F. S. Hickman, " 
William H. Hodgson, " 
A. M. Holding, 

Linda M. Hoopes, " 

Robert F. Hoopes, 

Daniel W. Howard, " 

Fanny L. Howard, 

Wm. M. Howard, " ■ " 

Dorothy Howard, 

J. Newton Huston, 

Alex. H. Ingram, Oxford, 
A. L. Ingram, West Chester, 

Rebecca T. Jackson, Westtown, 
Francis Jacobs, West Chester, 
William W. Jefferis, Philadelphia, 
George B. Johnson, West Chester, 

H. Rush Kervey, West Chester, 
Levi B. Kirk, Oxford, 



$050 Dr. J. Stewart Leech, Downingtown, $500 

Alice Lewis, West Chester, 25 

Obed Lewis, Springfield, 111., 1 00 

Walter H. Lewis, West Chester, 5 00 



B. Franklin March, Norristown, 5 00 

George L. Maris, Newtown, 1 00 

Samuel Marshall, West Chester, 6 00 

Thomas W. Marshall, " 500 

William P. Marshall, " 5 00 

S. L. Martindale, Oxford, 1 00 
Dr. Isaac Massey, West Chester, 1 00 

J. Llewellyn Meredith, " " 3 00 

J. Llewellyn Meredith, Jr.," " 200 

Mrs. Isaac Mickle, 50 

James Monaghan, " 6 00 

Anna Jackson Monaghan, " " 1 00 

Hannah Darlington Monaghan, " 25 

James Monaghan, Jr., " 25 

Rebecca Monaghan, 25 

Rev. S. G. M. Montgomery, Neb., 1 00 

Thomas H. Montgomery, W. Goshen, 5 00 

Hon. Daniel F. Moore, Phcenixville, 5 00 

John G. Moses, West Chester, 1 00 

Lewis C. Moses, " 5 00 

Dr. S. A. Mullin, " " 1 00 

Francina A. Murdagh, " 25 

Bessie Ebbs Norris, West Chester, 5 00 

Eli Palmer, West Chester, 1 00 

Rees Palmer, 1 00 

Richard G. Park, " " 10 00 

J. A. M. Passmore, Philadelphia, 2 00 

Samuel Pennock, Kennett Square, 1 00 

Hon. S. W. Pennypacker, Phila, 5 00 

George M. Philips, West Chester, 6 00 

Dr. Jacob Price, 1 00 

Joel B. Pusey, Avondale, 1 00 

Paul S. Reeves, Phcenixville, 5 00 

Alfred P. Reid, West Chester, 5 00 

Jessie H. Roberts, Downingtown, 1 00 

Evans Rogers, West Chester, 5 00 

Dr. J. T. Rothrock, " " 11 00 

John A. Rupert, 2 00 

Slater B. Russell, 50 

John E. Scott, Pomeroy, 25 

Mary I. Scull, Phcenixville, 10 00 

Thomas R. Scull, 5 00 

Harriet Shafer, West Pikeland, 2 00 

Alfred Sharpless, West Chester, 1 00 

Martha Sharpless, " 1 00 

Samuel J. Sharpless, Westtown, 5 00 

William P. Sharpless, West Chester, 5 00 

Dr. Wm. T. Sharpless, " 2 00 

Harry Sloyer, Phcenixville, 5 00 

Rev. S. B. Spalding, West Chester, 2 00 

Harris E. Sproat, Westtown, 1 00 

Theodore K. Stubbs, Oxford, 5 00 
W. Marshall Swayne, Kennett Square, 1 00 

D. Smith Talbot, West Chester, 2 00 

Archer Taylor, 05 

Annie Taylor, 05 

Agnes Taylor, 05 

George B. Thomas, " 2 00 

J. Preston Thomas, Whitford, 2 00 

Joseph Thompson, West Chester, 7 50 

Henry C. Townsend, Phila., 10 00 

Jos. B. Townsend, " 5 00 

Hon. Wm. B. Waddell, West Chester, 1 00 



50 
1 00 
6 00 
1 00 
1 00 
1 00 

1 00 

2 00 

50 
1 00 
5 00 

1 00 

5 °° 
1 00 
5 00 
1 00 
1 00 
50 

1 00 
5 00 

2 00 

5 00 
1 00 
1 00 

6 00 
25 
25 
25 



06 

05 
1 00 
5 00 
1 00 

5 25 
1 00 

6 00 
50 
25 
25 

1 00 

1 00 

1 00 

25 

2 00 
5 °° 
5 00 

1 00 



92 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Geo. H. Watson, Elizabeth, N.J. , $300 Pa., Frances M. Stiteler, Anselma, 

Marshall S. Way, West Chester, 5 00 Pa., $ 2 00 

Hon. William Wayne, Paoli, 600 Daughters of the American Revolution, 

G. Glancy Wilson, West Chester, 1 00 Chester County Chapter, 25 00 

Hon. Win. Wollerton, " 3 00 West Chester T. A. B. Society, 10 00 

H. S. Worth, Oxford, 1 00 To the memory of the men whose lives 

purchased our liberty, 3 00 

miscellaneous. For memorial stones ( collected ), 447 

„ , . _ T . , _, ... . A trowelfull of mortar for memorial 

Descendants of Josiah Philips: Aman- stones os 

da Garber Jones, SallieB. Kurtz, Lina A little patriot 10 

Roland, Amanda Roland, of Reading, ' 

List of School Contributors. 

Birmingham, Sarah Webster, teacher : Anna R. Lee, Minnie E. Lee, 
Dollie Brinton, Emma Boots, Grace Brinton, Walter Brinton, Harry 
Brinton. $0.29. 

Cooper School, Sylmar, Md., Bertie Daverin, teacher : Laura Rey- 
nolds, Alice Dowland, Nora Ferguson, Edith Reynolds, Maud Moore, 
Nelia Sidwell, Helen Keetley, Jennie Keetley, Anna Dowland, Clara 
Dowland, Venie Campbell, Mary Campbell, Herbert Reynolds, Jessie 
Dowland, Wilson Sidwell, Willie Keetley, Howard Reynolds, Everet 
Reynolds, Charlie Ferguson, George Ferguson, Charlie Reynolds, 
George Keetley, Willie Reynolds, Mearns Dowland. $1.25. 

Cov entry ville, South Coventry twp., Minnie M. Jones, teacher : Ethel 
Christman, Cora Fries, Hunter Fries, Charley Fries, Oscar Fries, Cyrus 
Dries, Willie Evans, Earl Essick, Eva Burk, Alban Burk, Katie Burk, 
Mamie McClain, Harry Dickinson, Blanche Houck, Charley Houck, 
Warren Houck, Roy Michener, Emily Piersol, Esther Piersol, Charley 
Piersol, Myrtle Frock, Stella Murray, Emma Murray, Oscar Murray, 
Joseph Burg. $0.25. 

East Grove, London Grove twp., M. Priscilla Floyd, teacher : Mamie 
Mayhew, Reba Mayhew, Rosie Mayhew, Anna Moody, Ernest Moody, 
George Ducker)', Lewis Brown, Matthew Ellis, Annie Ellis, John Denny, 
Alice Denny, Dennis O'Brien, Eddie O'Brien, Herschel Shortlidge, Morris 
O'Brien, John O'Connell, Michael O'Connell, Lizzie O'Brien, Katie Bond, 
Lawrence Stackhouse, Nellie Floyd, James Floyd, Kathie Floyd, Charles 
Floyd, John O'Connell, James O'Connell, Josie Monahan, Eddie Monahan, 
Daniel McGlinchey, Emma McGlinchey, Josie McGlinchey, Rosie McGlin- 
chey, Marguerite Floyd, May Green, Alfred Brown, Chester Brown,. 
Lottie Brown. $1.35. 

Elkview, Penn twp., Lidie A. McCorkle, teacher : Allan B. Smedley, 
Byron T. Smedley, Andrew J. Leid, Brinton E. Ingram, Horace G. 
Ingram, Estelle L. Ingram, James T. Mclntire, Eddie Mahan, Walter 
Mahan, Edith E. Jones, Anna L. Kelly, Daniel Kelly, Bessie Kelly, 
John Kelly, James S. Hood, Frank E. Hood, Sadie E. Hood, Maggie A. 
Hood, Mary B. Hood, Will E. McGurk, Harry K. McGurk, Myra Massey, 
Bell Hemsley, Amy Lee, Gertrude Webster, Louie Webster, Joe M. 
Grant, Albert Stafford, Frances Lee, Remus Lee, Granville Lee. #0.31. 

Franklin, South Coventry twp., Mary P. Brooke, teacher : George 
Leighton, Frank Leighton, Bessie Leighton, Daisy Leighton, Clara 



APPENDIX "Er—LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. 93 

Hains, Clarence Acker, Ruth Detwiler, Johnny Young, Jennie Young, 
Lizzie Favinger, Albert Favinger, Susie Smale, Stella Yost, Ella Burger, 
James Burger, Laura Plumley, Stella Brumback, Howard Brumback, 
Emma Miller, Walter Loomis, Ida Wilkinson, Carrie Geigle. $0.22. 

Friends' School. See West Chester Friends' School. 

Glen Hall, Louisa H. Huber, teacher : Mae Mendenhall, Emma 
McKnight, Willie McKnight, Emma Cook, Caleb Ball, George Ball, Anna 
Funk, Josie Funk, Bessie Allison, Norman Jackson. $0.75. 

Hartman's, East Pikeland twp., Lizzie Van Ormer, teacher : Howard 
Bronson, Willard Bronson, Clarence Yeager, Alice Hiestand, Minnie 
Waiters, Edna Friday, Lottie Hiestand, James Kinckiner, Amanda 
Hiestand, Jesse Bechtel, Hanna Detwiler, Russel Detwiler, Norma Huz- 
zard, Sallie Detwiler, Charlie Huzzard, Lizzie Billig, Katie Engle, Frank 
Swartz, Howard Miller, Delia Friday, Vernon Friday, Arthur Lahr, 
Annie Neilor, Clarence Miller, Mary Miller, Edward Miller, Katie Ma- 
lenke, Ambose Malenke, Joseph Brannan, William Yeager, Fannie 
Brannan, Susie Brannan, Lottie Lahr, Mabel Miller, John Reuben 
Yeager. $0.75. 

Hopewell, L. R. Cope, teacher : Maye Appleton, Alice Groff, Martha 
Bunting, Phebe Bunting, Mary Hart, Maggie Hudson, Dela Riley, Abbie 
McMichael, Mary Sagers, Bertha Maxfield, Bertha Knight, Laura Groff, 
Nina Mosteller, Anna Bunting, Kizzie Hudson, Rachie Mosteller, Pearl 
Hannum, Esther Webster, Alice Webster, Helen Webster, Ida Hudson, 
Bessie Hudson, Mary Hudson, Gertie Terry, Emma Groff, Sara Rayne, 
Mary Webster, Maude Gallegher, Rachie Hudson, Katie Harkness, Ethel 
Webster, Robbie Webster, Esther Webster, Earl McMichael, David 
Sagers, Willie McMichael, Lawrence Webster, Cecil Kimble, Ira Terry, 
Stanley Maxfield, Samuel Appleton, Ralph Conoly, Elwood Pierce, 
Stanley Webster, Clarence Huss, Harvey Huss, James Bunting, Morrow 
Hart, Clarence Knight, Robert Atkins, Howard Riley. $0.51. 

Howellville, Tredyffrin twp., Jennie Lamborn, teacher: W r arren 
Jaquett, Charles Roberts, Grover C. Opdyke, Charles Shainline, John S. 
Beitler, Bennie Cassel, James W. Gillespie, George W. Famous, Minerva 
Opdyke, Jennie Jaquett, Mary Flynn, Annie Flynn, Essie Pedrick, Nellie 
Egan, Terry Egan, Charles Chattem, Beatty Wadsworth, James Flynn, 
John Howe, George Nuttall, Maggie Howe, Sarah A. Howe, Alice 
Woodward, Mary Nuttall, Hattie Wadsworth, Mary Raub, Gertie Flana- 
gan, Laura Myers, Renie Cassel, Amos Nuttall. $1.07. 

Longwood, Anna R. Jackson, teacher : Helen M. Woodward, Bertha 
P. Merrick, Linnie S. Vandever, Nardie A. Wright, Katie T. Harrison, 
Lillie K. Wright, Rose H. Harrison, Sidney M. Wright, Emilie J. Brit- 
tingham, Hallie E. West, Ella Mary Heald, Giesela Stadlick, Maud E. 
Warfel, Wilmer Hampton, Robert Merrick, Maris Miller, Howard 
Miller, fo.20. 

Malvern, Primary Department, Margaret B. Trimble, teacher : Sara 
Suplee, Grace Phelps, Lee Spackman, Elsie Pickel, Florence Tompkins, 



94 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Stephen Phelps, Belle Pickel, Viola Mather, Elmer Mercer, Frank Snyder, 
Rose Snyder, Mabel Snyder, Bertha Brown, Edna Crouthers, Alice 
Crouthers, Bessie Hogeland, Ethel Dean, Leila Grubb, Anna Grubb, 
Walter Garrett, Edna Hogeland, Lizzie Catren, Florence Bailey, 
Martha Henderson, Anna John. $0.36. Grammar Department, Hannah 
Ephright, teacher : Don Baldwin, Eugene Todd, Lewis Newton, Ralph 
Thomas, Elias Hogeland, Jerome MacDonald, Willie Reeves, Charles 
Wright, Estella Hogeland, Lizzie Jacobs, Horace Shunk, Rebecca 
Thomas, Beulah Green, Nellie Bailey, Warren Garrett, Matora Greene, 
Albert Detwiler, Anna McCorkle, Fred Esler, Harry Thomas, Frank 
Detwiler, Warren Phelps. $0.39. 

Marlborough Hall* West Marlborough twp., Carrie M. Wollaston, 
teacher. $1.50. 

Ml. Airy* Uwchlan twp., Tacie C. Embree, teacher. $i.oo. 

Normal School. See West Chester State Normal School. 

Oak Hill, Newlin twp., Louisa H. Huber, teacher: Bessie Allison, 
Caleb Ball, George Ball, Emma Cook, Anna Funk, Josie Funk, Norman 
Jackson, Willie McKnight, Emma McKnight, May Mendenhall. $0.75. 

Oak Hill, West Marlborough twp., Mary Martin, teacher : Rae S. 
Baker, Millie Jones, Mary E. Gothersmen, Lauretta M. Mercer, Leila M. 
Wood, Grace E. Rinier, Nellie L. Baker, Bessie H. Wood, Mary F. Bar- 
ton, Emma E. Smale, Agnes M. Ferron, Maud E. Smale, Ida B. Barton, 
Mary E. Garris, Clara Johnson, Lizzie L. Richardson, Mamie E. Richard- 
son, Dora E. Cornelius, Ida M. Dickson, Ella E. Green, Florence A. 
Green, Mary M. Richardson, Benjamin F. Savage, Thomas E. Richard- 
son, George Richardson, Thomas Garris, George Garris, Charles Mar- 
tin, George E. Barton, Eddie P. Palmer, Thomas C. Ferron, Hayes 
Jones, David Ross, Elmer Dickson, Abraham Dickson, George Corne- 
lius, Clarence Shannon, Norman Johnson. $0.50. 

Oxford, Wm. H. Snyder, Principal: A. Maggie Barry, Mame H. Irwin, 
M. Lorena Strickland, Ruth E. Griffith, Mary E. Wells, Maggie M. 
Terry, teachers. High School: Willie McCommon, Randolph Reburn, 
Wil Wilson, Howard Crosby, Kirwan Hutchison, Philip Miller, Harry 
Oakford, Orvil Strickland, John Watt, Annie Mehan, Florence Pierson, 
Alice Sidwell, Lorenna Taylor, Florence Armstrong, Mary Hanvey, Mae 
Rupert. Grammar : Mary Barry, Bessie Miller, Annie Wilson, Bessie 
McFalls, Delia Cochran, Ettie Doyle, Hazel Strickland, Carrie Wilson, 
Edna Evans, Emma Rupert, Lucy Harrison, Maud Strickland, Helen 
Showalter, Ethel Leeke, Albert Kirk, Ralston Shellender, Norman Pass- 
more. Intermediate : Laura Dickey, Crete Gilligan, Jessie Perry, Horace 
Ramsay, Samuel H. Leeke, Clyde Wilson, Clyde Garver, Bertha Strick- 
land, Belle Oakford, Edna Galbraith, Guy Groff, Anna Winslow, Edith 
Leeke, Jessie King, Etta Dunlap, Carson Hutchison, Howard Pierson, 
Susie Ferguson, Norman Alexander. Secondary : Harry Wood, Lelia 

* Children's names, if received in time, will appear at end of list. 



APPENDIX "Er—LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. 95 

Pyle, Mary R. Mclntire, George C. Hutchison, Esther R. Swisher, S. 
Mabel Keilholtz, Mary V. Keilholtz, Mabel Hutchison, Ida Johnson, 
Carrie K. Smith, Charles E. Smith, Clara L. Russell, Carrie E. Collins, 
Earl Wilson, Clair Alexander, Ernest Ingram, Mary E. Pugh, Hazel L. 
Shellender. Primary: Mary LeCompte, James Mahoney, Raymond 
McCoy, Garfield Taylor, David Ferguson, Mary Ferguson, Horace John- 
son, Bessie Alexander, Jerrie Scofield, Clyde Alexander, Arthur Collins, 
Frank Janney, Mollie Reburn, Saidie Melrath, Jane Gibson, Annie Maley, 
Bertha Wilson, Lewis Kirk, Ida Grason, Mary Green, Irene Jay, Charles 
Nocho, Annie Owens, William Knabe, Mary Gray, Ella Butler, Helen 
Strickland, Eliza Enos, May Peterson, Howard Gettman, Mabel Sharp, 
Joseph Fox, Bertha Jay, Chester Irwin, Miriam Alexander, Mary Hutch- 
ison, Zeda Hampton, May Hannan, Alma Olson, Ella Ferguson, Berta 
Strickland, Sadie Harnish, Carrie Harnish, Victorine McCoy, Frances 
Smith, Allan Ingram, Katie Cannon, Bessie Lilley, May Millard, Alma 
Smith, Howard Hudders, Alice Hannums, Ella Lewis, Roy Collins, Eva 
Murray, Barclay Gyles, John Cannon, Charles Jay, Roman Jones, Ralph 
Davis, Willie H. Barry, Alec Cannon, Helen Wood, Roy Wilson, Ella 
Strickland, Theodore Melrath, Lida Irwin, Ada Keilholtz, Daisy Clen- 
denin, Helen E. Wood, Blanche Janney, Annie Mahoney, Iva Ramsey, 
Harry Garver, Grace Wilson, Clyde French, Eva Barton, Hazel Smith, 
Cora Cochran, Hallie Johnson, Ada Russell, Edgar Clark, Annie 
Hannum, Lucy Hannum, Norman Grey, Leeta McCauley, Ida Thomas, 
Bessie Thomas. $5.67. 

Phcenixville, H. F. Leister, Superintendent. High School, Emma D. 
Quidland, A. O'N. Refsnyder, Emma A. Refsnyder, Anna M. Quidland, 
teachers : Laura B. Pugh, Lydia Karrer, Minnie Terrill, Carrie H. 
Howell, Jennie Jordan, Florence Shenkle, Sara Richardson, John 
O'Rorke, Harvey Jester, Lex Robb, J. Warren Jones, Samuel R. Jones, 
H. B. Hall, M. W. Ganster, George K. Frees, Katie O'Brien, Lottie 
Quay, Millie Walters, Edna Weidensaul, Fanny V. Hallman, Venie 
Crossman, Maude C. Waitneight, Minnie Stoll, Leon Holman, Albert M. 
Shoemaker, W. Clayton M. Simmers, Jennie R. Hartman, Howard K. 
Wells, Bert D. Eaches, Samuel E. Cornett, Harvey E. Bavis, Harry M. 
Howell, Frank Harley, Howard E. Gunster, Chester Pennypacker, Leon 
C. Anderson, Paul S. Wynne, M. Bell Crouse, Bessie Murray, Carrie 
Morris, Emma Cox, Walter Bishop, Oscar W. Hunsicker, Peter I. Dein- 
inger, Enid H. Harris, Elizabeth A. Widdicombe, Mary Wall, Elsie Les- 
chorn, Emily A. Kugler, Rebe Wilson, Nellie Dobbs, Gertrude M. Kulp, 
Grace G. Shenkle, Herbert W. Wagner, George S. Walters, Warren 
Hallman. Grammar Department, Emma K. Bossert, Frances J. Tencate, 
Ida M. Taylor, Essie A. Hoskins, teachers : Adele Jones, Agnes P. Zol- 
lers, Florence E. Merrick, Sadie G. Keinard, Maud H. Howell, Cora 
Kepp, Ida Ettinger, Anna Barlow, Joseph R. Griffith, John Haviland, 
John Keenan, Clarence Neilor, Roy March, Mattie Brownback, Willie 
Essick, Warren P. Rhoades, Manola Stauffer, Annie Llewellyn. Second- 
ary, Irene M. Dunbar, Mame L. Jones, Esther E. Grow, Laura M. Cross- 



g6 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

man, teachers : Gertie Dobbs, Edith Dobbs, Florence Dobbs, Florence 
Davis, Maggie Ford, Eddie Shenkle, Norris Schwenk, Gordon Keenan, 
Charlie Dotterer, Elsie Brunabend, Sadie Gotwals, Mary Gotwals, Ella 
Ellwanger, Leila Stiteler, Charlie Angstadt, Willie Stoll, Florence 
Llewellyn, Elmira Essick, Willie Yerger, Laura Airhart, Annie Wilkins, 
Carlile Sturges, Robert Murray, Nellie Robertson, Willie Widdicombe, 
Charles Vanderslice, Bessie White, Robert Donahower, Theresa Fries, 
Lewis Vogel, Alice Stearn, Lena Demelkior, May Demelkior, Jennie 
Herrscher, Samana Hendricks, Ella Birchall Plush, Maggie Keenan, 
George Howard, Walter Deininger, May Cox, Mary Shaffer, Warren 
White, Hubert D. Leister, Katie Fulmer, Clara Myers, Harry Ford, 
Minnie Widdicombe, Clara Yarnall, Helen Crouse, Chester Detwiler, 
George S. Powell, Frank Haviland, Mary P. Yost, Charles H. Cox, 
Katie McCann. Primary, Helen M. Barrett, Elizabeth A. Cornett, Emily 
M. Auld, Tillie C. Leschorn, Mame M. Hall, Katie R. Rhoades, Emma 
L. Ellwanger, M. Virginia Vanderslice, teachers : Nicholas Hollen, 
Herbert Powell, Mahlon Rambo, John Frees, Tom Haviland, Josie Dot- 
terer, Willie Moore, John Coine, Guy Schirner, Laura Stoll, Elmira Car- 
ter,, Minnie Ettinger, Celia Grim, Ellen Keenan, Daniel McMonigal, 
Lizzie McCann, Albert Pollock, Bennie Carey, May Corker, Lizzie E. 
Bartholomew, Essie Benowitz, Lillie Kepp, Minnie Beck, Harvey 
Rhoades, Frank B. Porter, Claude Gotwals, Harry Friend, Wilmer 
Howell, Charles Pollock, Charles Schwenk, Jessie Robertson, Reva 
Buckely, Clara Greenover, Lizzie Forde, Owen Maloney, John Field, 
Harold Davis, Raymond Miller, Willie Wilson, Maud Beck, Howard 
MacNeal, Dorcas Hawkins, Ella Phillips, Harold Dettre, Emma Ash, 
Bertha Blair, Carrie Wagner, George Stiteler, Roland Keenan, Clarence 
Raby, Thomas Powell, Margaret Emery, Willie Wagner, George Wall, 
Mary Brunabend, Willie Byrne, Mary McAdam, Edna Walker, Eva Sterne, 
Edward Golding, Willie Shenk, Florence Wilson, Edith Williams, Wal- 
ter Towers, George Dobson, Helen Byrne, James Keenan, Reese Kee- 
ler, Arthur M. Buckwalter, Myrtle Kline, Clara Grim, Leah Matson, 
Katie L. Williams, Jerome Essick, Angie L. Bishop, Robert Farley, 
Minnie Davis, Edith Ott, John Myer, Effa Fitzgerald. High Street 
Schools : Belle P. Carter, principal : Mary E. McGuickian, secondary 
teacher : Mary A. McGillan and Mary T. O'Conner, primary teachers : 
Mary Weber, Bessie Eagle, Anna KoOns, Mary Johnson, Elizabeth Hagy, 
Harry Renshaw, Robert Evans, Maggie McMahon, Laura Mellington, 
Emma Raysor, Nora M. Koons, Harry Fitzgerald, Phebe Turner, Mary 
C. Hagy, Annie Evans, Lester Schlick, Vernon Wolfe, Raymond Jones, 
Stella Yeager, Annie Johnson, Joseph McNamee, Charles McNamee, 
Jennie Smith. Mason Street School, Kate E. Auld and Anna T. Mona- 
ghan, teachers : Gertrude Dorat, Emma Nieman, Mabel Houck, Effie 
Wensel, Olie Houck, Chester Brownback, Eddie Bloomer, Louis Nie- 
man, Howard Bloomer, Elise Scheetz, Annie Stanley, Harry Koerner, 
Florence Stanley, Mary Martha Harting, Townsend Scheetz, Frank 
Houck, Willie Elliott, Harry Rennard, Edna Rennard, Willie Nieman. 



APPENDIX "E"—LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. 97 

Pomeroy* Sadsbury twp. $0.25. 

Miss Townsend's Select School. See Windy Knowe. 

Union Independent, Tanguy, Pa., Miller M. Boyd, teacher : Florence 
Morrow, Enos Garrett, Mabel Manley, Elsie Sladden, Blanche Hendrick- 
son, Harry Hendrickson, Lewis Pinkerton, Charles Manley, Ethel Manley, 
Harry Lawton, Edwin Hoopes, Carrie Hoopes, Essie Baker, Joseph 
Kerwin, Mary Kerwin, Alice Smedley, Thomas Smedley, Anna Green, 
Sidwell Green, Fred Lawton, Anna Smedley, Helen Smedley, Eber 
Baker, Samuel Morrow, Clarence Smedley, Jabez Lawton, Howard Mor- 
row, Mary Dowling, Annie Dowling, Lillie Lawton, Willie Ogborn, Mag- 
gie Ogborn, May Lawton, Henry Baker, Frank Pinkerton, Florence 
Eachus, Juanita Eachus, J. Marion Eachus, Sallie E. Lawton, George 
McCloskey, Agnes McCloskey, Harry Poinsett, Horace Johnson, Elmer 
Johnson, Cortland Poinsett, Harry Miller, Lewis Morrow, Byron Lodge, 
Lillian Lodge, Walter Irons, Florence Morrow. $0.51. 

Unionville, East Marlborough twp. Grammar, Esther M. Pickel, 
teacher : Elizabeth Peirce, Anna Webb, Florence Chandler, Gertrude 
Chandler, Katie Webb, Willie Webb, Laura Hoagland, Zella Hoagland, 
Florence Jackson, George Webb, Carrie Chandler, Esther Worst, Louis 
Smith, Celine Renard, Bertha Wickersham, Mary Mullen. Second- 
ary, Martha P. Jackson, teacher : Grace Chandler, George Elvin, Ella 
Wickersham, Frank Andress, Annie Hagner, Samuel Wickersham. $0.30. 

Valley Forge, Schuylkill twp., Hettie E. Wilson, teacher : Nellie 
Bickings, Katie Callahan, Lillie Dunn, Mamie Dunn, Laura Free, Laura 
Fulmer, Delia Fulmer, Annie Fulmer, Elsie Kinsella, Annie Lebens, 
Barbara Lebens, Minnie Lebens, Alice Mattson, Katie McGlathry, Libbie 
Sell, Stella Sell, Gertrude Sassenroth, Clara Sassenroth, Sarah Stoddart, 
Jane Ann Stoddart, Flossie Shillady, Adra Tees, Katie Trodden, Hettie 
Wilson, John Bickings, John Caley, Isaac Irons, James Lock, Robert 
Lock, Walter Lock, Charlie Lock, Eddie McClaskey, Albert Mclntyre, 
Frank McGlathry, Frank Mattson, Willie Sell, John Sassenroth, Willie 
Tees, Nelson Shillady, Alvin Wise. $2.30. 

West Chester, Addison Jones, Superintendent. High School, Addison 
Jones, principal, Susan C. Lodge, S. I. Kreemer, Flora L. White, as- 
sistants : Frances Helen Brinton, M. Florence Wynn, I. N. Earl Wynn, 
Edward G. Kirk, Howard H. Dowlin, Robert S. Gawthrop, S. LeRoy 
Barber, Sadie Kerr, Edgar P. Dowlin, Katie Manning, Lewis W. 
Darlington, Fred Windle, James D. McClellan Ruth, L. H. Shields, 
Houghton Kervey, Frank Arnold, Francis M. Dowlin, Emlen T. Darl- 
ington, Havard S. Loomis, Isabel Vedder Clark, Frances Helen Walter, 
Lizzie M. Welsh, Arthur E. Willauer, Mary Manning, Nettie Lewis, 
Emily Locke Hoskins, Chas. Williamson, Carrie M. Sweney, Mabel Chase 
Taylor, Willis Howard Whisler, George J. Moses, Bessie H. Spence, Nor- 
ma A. Underwood, Adelaide Underwood, Ethel Chambers, George H. 

* Children's names, if received in time, will appear at end of list. 



98. LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Rupert, Matthias F. McLear, Maria Brock. James P. Long, janitor. 
Grammar, Harriet D. Sahler, Delia L. Meader, Samaria A. Eldredge, 
Anna R. Richter, Anna M. Dale, Louisa Stradling, teachers : Mary L. 
Heed, Edith J. Hickman, Anna J. Talbot, J. Gilbert Scott, Ethel M. 
Walker, Helen M. Chambers, Clara E. Bailey, Florence E. Palmer, Anna 
B. Maule, Jessie Webb, Mary Hickey, George E. Kane, Jr., Gertrude 
Hayes, Wellington Woodward, Sara Walter, Annis Griffith, Laura M. 
Jefferis, Cidney E. Townsend, Agnes C. Hickey, Fred W. Heed, Jr., 
William L. Kane, John J. Hall, Charles P. Gray, Bertha M. Urmey, Arthur 
R. Webb, Emma M. Lear, Agnes Thompson, Mattie B. Young, Levi 
McC. Foster, Roberta Laird, William W. Hoopes, Lizzie Dilworth, Sadie 
B. Reagan, Alice C. Dowlin, Granville T. Mitchell, Wm. Howard, Mary 

E. McClenaghan, Albert Humpton, W. J. McNamee, Thomas F. Man- 
ning, Auta G. Griffith, Jefferis Ingram, Sandford H. Senger, Ambrose 
Taylor, John R. Hoskins, Carrie S. Moses, Eber E. Baker, Harry F. 
Peirce, Jr., Norman Fitzsimmons, Lillie M. Still, Thomas D. Cope, 
Susie Bowers, Josephine H. Willauer, Ethol Rupert, Ethel V. Ash, 
Florence L. Crowe, Lizzie H. Bailey, Etta Underwood, Bessie A. Brin- 
ton, Bayard Sharpe, James Few, Rutherford B. Hayes Smith, George 
J. Baxter, Edwin Brooke Bateman, Mary J. Hall, Anna B. Hoskins, F. 
Maude Granger, Bentley W. Foster, Granville F. Pratt, Marguerite M. 
Beatty, Sadie Sweney, Ida Smith, Hanna Parker, Sallie Smiley, Hew- 
son Canning, Maidie S. Brinton, Warren Mitchell, Archie G. Kift, Lou- 
ella H. Eisenbeis, Blanche Cloud, J. Helen M. Thatcher, Mary K. Jack- 
son, Jennie Rupert, Agnes M. Jones, Mary Kilpatrick, Thorndyke 
Harvey, Fannie D. Rigg, Atwood Himelright, Adeline Johnson, Ma- 
bel Mullin, May Wallace, Jennie Hummel, Phebe Jane Gheen, Bennie 

F. Passmore. Intermediate, Anna M. McLear, Emma D. Lippin- 
cott, Ida B. Brooke, Fannie C. Watson, C. Annie Adams, teachers : 
Maggie E. Himelright, Mabel S. Ridgley, Edgar L. Bailey, Ida E. 
Crowe, Estella A. Clark, Jennie T. Mason, Annie B. Siddall, Anna M. 
Young, Maggie T. Schmidt, Helen R. Frame, Fred. Veit, Arthur E. 
Maule, Harry E. Biehn, Walter C. Munshower, Frank Davis, Ellen B. 
Lewis, Marion Smith, Irwin W. Reagan, Jesse Dilworth, Laurence W. 
Hannum, Fred. W. Mayer, Thomas J. Hall, Annie D. Speakman, Ethel 
B. Speakman, Jennie Urmey, Lizzie Kane, Willie Veit, Howard I. Mat- 
lack, Herman Reeves, Eva Keener, Reba MoVrison, Tony Musante, 
Harry Schmidt, Howard Johnson, Lewis Woodward, Elsie M. Smith, 
Clarence King, Robert G. Simons, Paul Kane, Rose Hayden, Edgar E. 
Long, Norman M. Seeds, Florence Wilkinson King, Hettie May Dil- 
worth, Thomas L. Hoskins, Herman F. Davis, Mabel Clark, Charlie P. 
Rigg, Albert G. Hall, George J. Baily, Edward Matson, Jr., John R. 
Townsend, Hillary Fox, Jr., Norman Broomall, Jr., Minna C. Mattson, 
Minnie M. Mayer, Elsie M. Baldwin, Bertha E. Thorp, Benjamin Wal- 
ker, Bessie L. Cooper, G. C. Marsh, Walter W. Wells, Frances E. Mona- 
ghan, Clara M. Black, Mary McFarlan, Edna Highley, Mary Vandever, 
Elma Lear, Edgar Eachus, Ada Simons, Layton Underwood, Charlotte 



APPENDIX "Er—LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. 99 

B. Darlington, Orma Fitzsimmons, Ethel M. Sharpless, Bertha C. Peirce, 
Katie Kane, Ola H. Hoopes, Raymond Henry, Allan B. Smedley, Isaac 
G. Darlington, Agnes R. Swift, Benj. F. Bond, Annie E. Knox, Francis 
Findlay, Minnie Wynn, F. Brinton Strode, Maud V. Speakman, Alice 
R. Kline, Florence Travilla, Francis R. Bobb, Charles H. Campbell, J. 
Rupert McCowan, Sallie S. Vandever, Maggie Hallowell, Annie Wray. 
Primary, Emma S. Marshall, Clara J. Shepherd, Maipa F. Worrall, sub- 
stitute for Maggie E. Speakman, Elizabeth R. Sharpless, Mary H. Smed- 
ley, Jesse R. Keech, teachers : George K. Strode, Vella L. Smith, Ethel 
M. Durnall, Edward F. Thompson, Norman H. Hoopes, Bessie T. Man- 
ley, Willie McClenaghan, Mabel Thorp, Ernest Bates, Nellie S. John- 
son, Elvira M. King, Renwick S. Laird, Margaret S. Bond, May Still, 
Henry L. Hayden, Ernest Bates, Lena S. Kofke, Clara B. Schmidt, 
Martha Ingram, Charles H. Bender, Bessie H. Knight, Horace T. Webb, 
Florence Thorp, Clara Hickman, Ethel I. Bidden, Harry E. Broomall, 
Percy B. Ostrom, Hattie G. Ramsey, Jeannette Lear, Lizzie S. Davis, 
John Veit, Harry A. Musser, Frank Heald, Cloyde Roecker, Leon C. 
Kane, Willie A. Miller, Anita Fitzsimmons, Brooke W. Miller, William 
S. Wethearl, Harold McCowan, Edith M. Siddall, Paul Hennessey, 
Lillie B. King, Edwin A. Chambers, Ernest C. Wilson, Edward Hayes, 
Jennie E. Darlington, Willie L. Downing, Ellwood E. Gray, Willie J. 
Knox, Florence J. Hoopes, William Dowlin, Norman S. Darlington, Ed- 
ward P. Pyle, Frank B. Shaner, May H. Ennis, James H. Ennis, Beatrice 
M. Everlof, Anna N. Taylor, Ellen Wray, Anna Snare, Edward M. Mil- 
ler, Reba M. Shaw, May Bell McDonald, Clara Hansell, Frank H. Smith, 
Ralph Bates, George Knox, Viola Senger, Eva B. Munshower, Mary E. 
Smiley, J. Weldon Brinton, Jay H. Jefferis, Bennie Wilbeck, Harry E. 
Brown, Edith M. Broomall, Ivison Guthrie, Charles A. Wilson, Mabel 
S. Farra, Ruth Hoopes, Ida Sachs, Chester P. Lewis, James Russell, 
Mabel H. McKissick, Ethel M. Miller, Charlotte Manley, Charles Bond, 
Edith D. Brinton, Clarence J. Sharpless, Elsie H. Vance, Frederick A. 
Broomell, Mary Osborne, John R. Huston, Maurice Hennessey, Ida D. 
Strode, Harry J. Swift, A. Bushong Brooke, Lillie Davis, J. Benson Dar- 
lington, William P. Siddall, Helen B. Durnall, Lewis Powell, Ralph 
Kane, George F. Baldwin, R. Jennie Abel, Ada Brewster, Lindley G. 
Schmidt, Vera A. Snare, Mary L. Griffith, Clifford Fisher, Lena Hayes, 
Lillie D. Tompkins, Lewis Archer, Eha E. Sharpless, Lewis Smith, 
Chester Findlay, Delia May Nutt, Frank Cooper, Jesse Steward, May 
Harp, John McDonald, Aubrey Smith, Delia Young, Harry Simons, 
Arthur Fowler, Deborah Rodgers, Edna Shaner, Jean Speakman, Helen 
E. Clark, Herbert Bender. Adams Street, Preston Eves, principal. In- 
termediate, May DeL. Morrison, Adelaide H. Woodward, teachers : 
Lottie Wilson, Joseph C. Smith, Elwood Goven, Isaac W. Bye, C. E. 
Whittaker, Annie M. Streets, Cecelia Allison, Oscar Anderson, Mabel 
S. Gladman, Malinda Derry, Rachel N. Johnson, Eva Genlob, Anna Proc- 
tor, Mary L. Walker, Theodore Derry, Maud Smith, Addie Smith, Ger- 
trude M. Whitaker, Ethel Patterson, Clyde Baptit, Maud Johnson, Flor- 
ence Ramsey, Gertrude Gibbs, Melvina Ramsey, Mabel Allison, Archie 



of 0, 



ioo LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Gladman. Primary, Annie E. Woodward, Laura M. Smith,Clara M. Ehni, 
teachers : Elsie May Clarkson, Charles Stephenson, Willie Morris, Alice 
Wheaton, May Dogans, Willie Derry, George L. Fry, Jr., Mary Brown, 
Willie Luff, Bertha West, Rachel Gibbs, George Goodwin, Mabel Derry, 
Ora Whittaker, Ada Smith, Joe Curry, Bella Warnick, Walter Durnall, 
Herbert Ray, Willie Allison, George Boyer, Harry Durnall, Howard 
Clarkson, Charlie Elbert, Archie Hopkins, Eva Francis, Daniel Young, 
Florence Lowax, Elsie Jones, Sadie Smith, Johanna Watkins, Alban 
Warnic, Susie Costley, Anna Curry, Ammarilla Brown, Viola Gibbs, 
John McKinney, Mabel McKinney, Matilda Brown, Alphonso Reed, 
Herman Massey, George Reed, Charles Raymond, Helen Boyd, Hen- 
rietta Jones, Naomi Goines, Joseph Johnson. $28.61. 

West Chester Friends, Henry Arnold Todd, principal, Clara B. James, 
Eleanor Walsh Sharpless, assistants : High School: Horace F. Taylor, 
George K. Goldschmidt, Smedley D. Butler, W. Hunter Little, Edmund 
A. Harvey, Paul Darlington, Marian Reid, Catharine Needles, May 
Byers, Edith S. Paschall, Bertha A. Marshall, Viola Martin, Lillian H. 
Baily, Jessie Darlington, Alice M. Reid, Anna M. Grubb, Oliver J. Tem- 
pleton. Primary : Florence J. Monaghan, Gertrude Monaghan, Edwin 
P. Darlington, Cheston L. Darlington, Mazie M. Hurst, Samuel Butler, 
C. Marshall Taylor, J. Hastings Thomas, Percy Marion Hoopes, James 
Freddie Reid, Eleanor S. Sharpies, Roger Linton, Herman Baker, Jesse 
J. Taylor. $5.00. 

West Chester State Normal School. Faculty : Geo. Morris Philips, 
David M. Sensenig, Annie M. Sensenig, Andrew Thos. Smith, Wallace 
P. Dick, Elvira Y. Speakman, Clyde E. Ehinger, Ella M. Ehinger, Ma- 
rie Louise Baright, Frank C. Rex, Sara S. Kirk, Robert Anderson, Lydia 
A. Martin, Elizabeth B. Birchard, Anna P. Esler, Esther M. Groome, 
O. D. Frederick, Elizabeth F. Criley, William S. Delp, Ella S. Wein- 
berger, James Struthers Heberling, E. Stanton Yoder. Students : (A)Ella 
Z. Anders, Annie J. Allebach, (B) Wallace Bartholomew, Henry M. 
Bechtel, Howard M. Bartlett, Florence R. Brosius, Edgar Butler, Eugene 
Buckman, Lillie Brown, Mary H. Baker, Miriam S. Brunner, Hanna J. 
Bready, Dorothy E. Buck, Ella Bennett, Edith M. Byerts, May K. Biggins, 
Lidie Butler, Gertrude Baker, Maude Baker, Susie C. Byler, Nellie Betts, 
Jessie A. Burk, Martha Blair, Lizzie Blair, (C) Katie B. Casey, Lizzie W. 
Crossan, Louise A. Cather, Ada Criswell, Ella C. Cornell, Annie C. Claud- 
er, Emma T. Comly, Mary F. Cronin, Mabel Raymond Cheyney, Nellie 
C. Carlin, Thos. D. Cope, Percy S. Conner, Eli P. Comley, Flora M. Cly- 
mer, Herman Cuadra, Ellene Currie, (D) Mabel Dudley, Iona B. Dysart, 
Jno. Douglas. Ethel M. Davie, Unity R. Dannaker, Walter Dengler, Ruth 
Y. Davis, Sallie L. Deakyne, Lettie W. Duer, (E) Hannah D. Esrey, Lulu 
M. Eachus, Chas. V. R. Evans, John P. Evans, Wm. P. England, Ellis 
Eshleman, Margaret Ellis, (F) Liela M. Fronefield, Mae Finley, James H. 
Field, Anna E. Fetters, Geo. E. Fetters, William G. Fegan, Noah M. 
Frantz, Marguerite Farrell, George E. Fleisher, (G) Julia D. Gyger, Ray- 
mond Greene, Perry H. Godshall, Walter E. Greenwood, Henry C. 
Groff, Samuel M. Greenwood, Clifford Garrett, Florence I. Griffith, A. 



APPENDIX "Er—LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. 101 

Benson Grove, Cora F. Greene, Helen Garrett, Bessie B. Godfrey, Jessie 
V. Gunkle, Bertha I. Grater, Lizzie Gray, Eliza H. Griffith, Anna M. 
Green, (H) Margaret L. Hilton, Bessie Hamilton, Daisy Houck, Mabel 
Hellyer, Elsie Hambleton, Elizabeth Harry, Clara Hoopes, Abbie 
Heald, Maud Hibberd, Isaac P. Hoopes, William Hemphill, Howard E. 
Heckler, Simon G. Huber, C. Vincent Hart, J. M. Hartman, E. A. Heil- 
man, Mary A. Harvey, Olive M. Hibbs, Rebecca M. Heaton, Bertha V. 
Hetherington, Katharine Humphrey, Mabel E. Houseal, Frank Hornber- 
ger, Wallace D. Heaton, Paul Huber, Jno. B. Hoffman, (I) Sara Ingram, 
(J) Lizzie Jones, Madge Johnson, Gertrude Johnson, Hanna N. Johnson, 
Elsie M. Johnson, Minnie M. Jones, Ethel R. John, Katharine James, 
Gertrude S. Johnson, Martha Jones, Mary N.James, (K) Laura E. Koons, 
Clara Keighley, Laura Keighley, Harry A. Kotz, Joseph F. Kirkpatrick, 
Sarah Kerr, Annie Klink, Lizzie J. Kershner, (L) Eva Janet LeFevre, 
Anna Leatherman, Etta N. Lapp, Leon C. Lapp, Sharpless H. Lewis, 
Harrison S. Lucas, S. Wills Lusby, H. G. Landis, Mary E. Leahy, Sallie 
G. Liggett, Aurelian E. Leffler, Flora B. Lahr, (M) Jennie MacDonald, 
Adele Moyer, Annie O. Moyer, Lizzie Marshall, Carrie Marshall, Ada 
Mahood, Iva C. Mearns, Alice Moore, Bessie Mattern, Lillian Moore, 
Bessie M. Mast, Gertrude McKinstry, Margaret McKee, Blanche Mack- 
elduff, Mary Marshall, Ellis McClure, Orin R. Miller, Robert F. Mancill, 
Edgar H. Moore, Cannie R. Miller, H. Arthur Mitchell, Dwight C. Mar- 
tin, H. Watson Myers, Wilson R. Moyer, Ira D. McCord, Charles Ma- 
deira, (N) Ida E. Neidig, (P) Wm. P. Philips, Sara Philips, Nellie E. Pretty, 
Santiago Pi, Robert Potts, Anna W. Pusey, S. Alverta Pechin, Ann W. 
Pechin, Elizabeth M. Powell, Mary Aubrey Powell, Anna R. Pearson, 
Mabel D. Pearson, William S. Pike, Bertha M. Pyle, Lucille Preston, 
Bertha M. Paul, (R) Nona S. Reid, Mary S. Rittenhouse, Abby C. Rowe, 
Jennie B. Roper, Nora B. Rigg, Irene Reagan, Esther Raysor, Arthur 
P. Reid, Raymond S. Rogers, Warren D. Renninger, Leonard M. Ruth, 
Anna D. Rogers, Hubert S. Riley, Norman H. Rahn, S. M. Rosenber- 
ger, (S) John S. Stettler, Edgar H. Sensenich, Rose E. Swartley, Harold 
E. Smith, Warren H. Stover, Arturo Solorzano, Christopher S. Sterner, 
Ira Sterner, J. Monroe Smith, Heber Sensenig, H. Lindsay Sproat, H. 
Elric Sproat, Tessie Shearer, Carrie Seibert, Mary E. Snyder, Mattie 
Smedley, Susie L. Search, Lillie M. Saeger, Sarah Sharpless, Elsie Sing- 
master, Effie E. Seavey, M. Virginia Strode, Mattie Sensenig, Addie G. 
Shaddinger, Laura E. Swartz, Emma L. Supplee, Clara E. Sittler, Mabel 
Stevens, Blanche Sheibley, Florence Smith, (T) Flora B. Turner, Mary H. 
Taylor, Margaret H. Taylor, Ada R. Taylor, Florence Talley, Morgan 
Thomas, Wm. H. Taylor, (U) Jean B. Urner, (W) Allen Willits, J. Harry 
Wright, Clara Wack, Lillie M. Wanner, Jean Wallace, Meta Worthing- 
ton, Geo. E. Ward, R. Stewart Wendell, Amasa L. Worthington, Geo. 
J. Wendel, Geo. S. Williamson, Harry Williams, Claudia Wilbur, Mabel 
Woodward, Delia Williams, Mary E. Wood, Antoinette Wintzer, Edith 
Webster, Maude Wetherill, Mary E. Williams, Margaret A. Williams, 
Anna Woodward, Katherine Wagner, Etta Williams, (Y) Anna Yardley, 



102 LAFAYETTE MEMORIAL EXERCISES. 

Mary L. Yarnall, Georgie K. Yeakel, Ralph A. Yost, Mary R. Yerkes, 
(Z) Pedro Zayas. $35.00. 

Windy know e. Marguerite G. Townsend, principal, Harriett E. Town- 
send and Mary E. Cornwell, assistants : Ada C. Williamson, Caroline R. 
D. Baird, Charlotte M. Windle, Emily H. Montgomery, Florence Gheen, 
Frances P. Massey, Grace H. Darlington, Kate S. Barber, Louise A. Bar- 
ber, Letitia B. Windle, Rachel M. Dunn, Sarah M. Brinton, Elizabeth 
M. Rothrock. $4.00. 

Dr. L. B. Henson, Coatesville, $2.00. 



KEY TO MAP ON OPPOSITE PAGE. 

The following references to the positions of the British columns, etc., are taken from 
a British map published in 1778, and republished in 1846, with additions and alterations, by 
the Pennsylvania Historical Society. The accompanying map has further alterations, cor- 
rections and additions. 

References to column under Cornwallis: (AA) Column after having crossed the 
Brandywine at 2 o'clock p. m. (BB) Third brigade, not brought into action, but kept in 
reserve in rear of fourth brigade. (C) Two squadrons of dragoons, not employed. (D) 
Light^infantry and chasseurs beginning attack. (EE) Attack of guards and Hessians, 
who forced the Americans on the first onset. (F) Part of the American right forced by 
the 2nd light infantry and chasseurs. (GG) First British grenadiers, Hessian grenadiers 
and the guards entangled in woods. (HHH) March of 2nd light infantry and grenadiers 
and 4th brigade beyond Dilworthtown, where they dislodged a corps of Americans strongly 
posted. (II) Ravine in which Greene covered the retreat. (J) Wistar's (?) Woods. 

References to column under Knyphausen : (aa) Column in march at 9 in the morning, 
his van having driven back American detachments which attempted to defend defiles from 
Welch's tavern to heights of Chadd's Ford, (bb) Heights and woods occupied by Ameri- 
cans, (c) Small fieche raised by Americans, (d) British riflemen posted behind house and 
supported by 100 men of Gen. Stirn's brigade, (e) Queen's rangers pursuing Americans 
dislodged from woods (f). (g) Four pieces of cannon, with 49th regiment, to support at- 
tack of" advanced troops, and 28th regiment who crossed valley (h) to get to heights (i) 
which Americans abandoned at their approach as well as the fieche "c." (k) March of 
the troops to take the position " n," which was done under fire of cannon in (1), and under 
that of Americans in (mm), (nn) Position ot column from 10.30 A. M. to 4 P. M., when 
Gen. Howe made his attack. Position of Americans was then (0000). (p) March of troops 
to ford under fire of cannon "g." The Americans fired from their batteries " mm." (r) 
Ford where troops crossed creek and charged the Americans, who at first opposed them 
with some resolution, but soon gave way. Riflemen and Queen's rangers, with 71st, 4th 
and 5th followed by all the British regiments and by Gen. Stirn's brigade, forced the 
Americans to abandon their batteries "mm," and after some resistance near the houses 
(ss), to retire at (tt), from which position they fired upon the troops with four pieces of 
cannon. The Americans afterwards retreated to Chester; the night favored their escape 
and saved them from pursuit. Knyphausen's column, having joined Howe, remained in 
the position (uu). 

References showing names of houses in vicinity of battle at that time, and names of 
present owners (1896): (1) George Strode's, subsequently Philip Price's, now estate of 

Philip Paxson. (2) , afterward Dr. A. L. Elwyn's, now John Mitchell's. (3) 

Richard Strode's, the portion now remaining now A. Darlington Strode's. (4) Widow 
Susannah Davis's, not standing, the house built upon its site now Thos. Sharpless's. (5) 
Mary, widow of John Davis, once Amos Davis's, not standing. (6) Mary, widow of James 
Davis, once Daniel Davis's, modernized and now Samuel Boyd's. (7) William Jones's, 
now William Jones's. (8) Isaac Davis's, afterward Abraham Darlington's, now property 
of John Noble. (9) John Woodward's, not standing, new house now Minshall Sharp- 
less's. (10) Richard Eavenson's, now Joseph H. Brinton's. (11) House believed to have 
been occupied by J. Bolton, not standing. (12) Isaac Garrett's, not standing. (13) Abra- 
ham Darlington's, now Francis C. Biddle's. (14) John Bennett's, not standing, now 
Henry Bennett's. (15) Edward Brinton's, afterward Edward B. Darlington's, now Samuel 
P. Marshall's. (16) Geo. Brinton's, afterward Ziba Darlington's, now Henry Faucett's. 
(17) William Thatcher's, now Howard Thatcher's. (18) Israel Gilpin's, Howe's head- 
quarters, now estate of Elias Baker, late of Media, deceased. (19) John Henderson's, 
not standing, another house built on or near the spot, now Crosby Fairlamb's. (20) 
Samuel Painter's, now property of Jos. Turner. (21) Gideon Gilpin's, Lafayette'' 's Head- 
quarters, now property of Joseph Turner. (22) Benj. Ring's, Washington's Headquarters, 
now Eli Harvey's. (23) Wm. Harvey's, not standing. (24) Davis's Tavern, modernized. 
(25) Chads's house. (26) Amos House's, not standing. (27) Geo. Martin's, now Pennock 
Williamson's. (28) Blacksmith shop, not standing. 

** Pits in which soldiers were buried. 

ft Artillery. 




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